1921 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1921.
Musicians born that year included Humphrey Lyttelton and Eddie Calhoun.

Events

Bix Beiderbecke attended the Lake Forest Academy near Chicago, and got the opportunity to learn about the New Orleans and Chicago Jazz.
Frankie Trumbauer worked for Isham Jones at the College Inn in Chicago.
Sidney Bechet returns from his trip to Europe, and musicians like Duke Ellington become aware of his abilities.
Fletcher Henderson is on the road with Ethel Waters. He hears Armstrong for the first time and immediately offers him a job. Armstrong turns him down.
James P. Johnson starts approaching jazz with the recording of "Worried and Lonesome Blues" and "Carolina Shout". He becomes a pioneer of stride piano with these recordings.
Saxophonist Coleman Hawkins joined the Mamie Smith's Jazz Hounds.
Lennie Tristano takes an interest in piano at the age of two years.

Standards

In 1921 the main standard published was "The Sheik of Araby".

Deaths

; April20 – Tony Jackson, American pianist, singer, and composer.

Births

; January20 – Connie Haines, American singer.22 – André Hodeir, French violinist.30 – Bernie Leighton, American pianist.31 – John Anderson, American trumpeter.
; February12 – Hans Koller, Austrian tenor saxophonist and bandleader.13 – Wardell Gray, American tenor saxophonist.
; March1 – Kenny Baker, English trumpeter.11 – Astor Piazzolla, Argentine tango composer, bandoneon player.15 – Vinnie Burke, American bassist.19 – Harry Babasin, American bassist.20 – Jimmy Coe, American saxophonist.26 – Joe Loco, American pianist and arranger.
; April3 – Earl Washington, American pianist.7 – Al Hayse, American trombonist.13 – Dona Ivone Lara, Brazilian samba singer.22 – Candido Camero, Cuban conga and bongo player.26

* Jimmy Giuffre, American clarinet and saxophone player.
* Preston Love, American saxophonist.

; May6 – Freddy Randall, American trumpeter and bandleader.20 – Jimmy Henderson, American trombonist and bandleader.22 – Gustav Brom, Czech big band leader and clarinetist.23 – Humphrey Lyttelton, English trumpeter.28 – Al Tinney, American pianist.31 – Alan Clare, British jazz pianist.
; June2

* Ernie Royal, American trumpeter.
* Marty Napoleon, American pianist.7 – Tal Farlow, American guitarist.15 – Erroll Garner, American pianist and composer.17 – Tony Scott, American clarinetist.

; July9 – Irv Kluger, American drummer.17

* George Barnes, American guitarist.
* Mary Osborne, American guitarist.24 – Billy Taylor, American pianist and composer.

; August4

* Herb Ellis, American guitarist.
* Pat Friday, American singer.6 – Buddy Collette, American flautist, saxophonist, and clarinetist.7 – Warren Covington, American big band trombonist.21 – Dennis Berry, English musician and composer.28 – Tony Aless, American pianist.

; September3 – Cab Kaye, English singer, pianist, and bandleader.8 – Norris Turney, American flautist and saxophonist.15 – Gene Roland, American composer and musician.16 – Jon Hendricks, American lyricist and singer.20

* Bill DeArango, American guitarist.
* Chico Hamilton, American drummer and bandleader.29 – Franny Beecher, American guitarist.

; October3 – Leon Breeden, American clarinetist and saxophonist.4 – Shifty Henry, American bassist.10

* Julius Watkins, American French hornist.
* Monk Montgomery, American bass guitarist.
* Roy Kral, American pianist and singer.18 – Willy Andresen, Norwegian pianist orchestra leader.28 – Chico O'Farrill, Cuban composer and conductor.

; November13 – Eddie Calhoun, American upright bassist.20 – Norman O'Connor, American pianist.23 – Jack Marshall, American guitarist, conductor, and composer.
; December1 – John Bunch, American pianist.26 – Steve Allen, American singer, songwriter, and television personality.31 – Simon Brehm, Swedish upright bassist.