1927 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1927.
Musicians born that year included John Dankworth, Cleo Laine and Stan Getz.

Events

April 21 – Electric re-recording of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" by Paul Whiteman's Orchestra directed by Nathaniel Shilkret, with Gershwin at the piano. In 1925, electrical recording vastly improved the quality of recordings, and many important recordings, including Whiteman's 1924 recording of the Rhapsody, were re-recorded electrically. Whiteman was at the podium, but left the studio because of a disagreement with Gershwin over the tempo. Shilkret, Victor's Director of Light Music at the time, took the baton, and the recording was completed as scheduled. The recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974.

; October17 – Louis Cottrell, Sr., American drummer and father of Louis Cottrell, Jr..
; November1 – Florence Mills, American cabaret singer, dancer, and comedian.
; Unknown date

2 – John McLevy, Scottish trumpeter.5 – Lennie Hastings, English drummer.10 – Allen Eager, American saxophonist.11 – Wilton Gaynair, Jamaican saxophonist.12 – Guy Lafitte, French tenor saxophonist.13 – Dick Wetmore, American violinist.15 – Buddy Banks, Canadian upright bassist.17 – Eartha Kitt, American singer and actress.19 – J. R. Monterose, American saxophonist.20 – Bill Le Sage, British pianist, and vibraphonist.25 – Antônio Carlos Jobim, Brazilian composer.28 – Ronnie Scott, English saxophonist.29 – Don Shirley, American-Jamaican pianist.30

2 – Stan Getz, American saxophonist.4 – Tony Fruscella, American trumpeter.6 – Don Fagerquist, American trumpeter.8 – John Hubbard Beecher, American trumpeter.9 – Joe Maneri, American saxophonist.13 – Buck Hill, American saxophonist.25 – René Thomas, Belgian guitarist.

4 – Cy Touff, American bass trumpeter.8 – Dick Hyman, American pianist and composer.10 – Donn Trenner, American pianist and arranger.16 – Ruby Braff, American trumpeter.17 – Horst Lippmann, German drummer.20 – John R. T. Davies, English trombonist, trumpeter, alto saxophonistaudio, and sound engineer.

6 – Gerry Mulligan, American saxophonist.10 – George Freeman, American guitarist.17 – Junior Collins, American French horn player.27

1 – Billy Byers, American trombonist.8 – Phil Cohran, American trumpeter.12 – Barbara Dane, American singer.16 – Lucy Ann Polk, American jazz singer.21

* Bill Holman, American composer, conductor, and saxophonist.
* Chuck Stewart, American photographer.24 – Charles Greenlww, American trombonist.30
* Clora Bryant, American trumpeter.
* Dick Noel, American singer.
* Shake Keane, Jamaican trumpeter.31 – Red Holloway, American tenor saxophonist.

6 – Eddie Cano, Afro-Cuban pianist.12 – Al Fairweather, British trumpeter.13 – Attila Zoller, Hungarian-born American guitarist.24 – Ian Christie, English clarinettist.

* Charlie Kennedy, American saxophonist.
* Tommy Turk, American trombonist.7 – Doc Severinsen, American trumpeter.10
* Luigi Waites, American drummer and vibraphonist.
* Marcel Azzola, French accordionist.12 – Conte Candoli, American trumpeter.13 – Ike Cole, American pianist and composer.14 – Max Brüel, Danish pianist and saxophonist.18 – Don Bagley, American bassist.

4 – Johnny Maddox, American pianist.6 – Bucky Calabrese, American upright bassist.8

* Basil Kirchin, English drummer and composer.
* Frank Traynor, Australian trombonist.13 – Joe Puma, American guitarist.15 – Joe Castro, American pianist.16 – Danny Moss, British jazz saxophonist.17 – Sam Butera, American saxophonist.20 – Jimmy Raney, American guitarist.22 – Malachi Favors, American bassist.23 – Martial Solal, French pianist.

8 – Specs Wright, American drummer.9

* Benny Green, British saxophonist.
* Elvin Jones, American drummer.20
* Colette Bonheur, Canadian singer.
* John Dankworth, English saxophonist.
* Red Mitchell, American upright bassist.21 – Ward Swingle, American singer and pianist.25 – Earl Zindars, American composer.26 – Romano Mussolini, Italian pianist.27 – Red Rodney, American trumpeter.

4 – Walter Bishop Jr., American pianist.7 – Al Martino, American singer and actor.11

* Curtis Amy, American tenor saxophonist.
* Tony Kinsey, English drummer and composer.13
* Anita Kerr, American singer, pianist, and composer.
* Lee Konitz, American composer and alto saxophonist.20 – Ross McManus, English trumpeter.23
* Fats Sadi, Belgian vibraphonist and percussionist.
* Sonny Criss, American saxophonist.26 – Warne Marsh, American tenor saxophonist.28 – Cleo Laine, British scat singer and actress.

3 – Andy McGhee, American tenor saxophonist and educator.6 – Don Lusher, English trombonist.8 – Chris Connor, American singer.11 – Mose Allison, American pianist and singer.16 – Dolo Coker, American pianist.18 – Victor Sproles, American bassist.22 – Jimmy Knepper, American trombonist.25 – Dick Wellstood, American pianist.

5 – Bhumibol Adulyadej, Taj saxophonist.6

* Akira Miyazawa, Japanese saxophonist, clarinetist, and flautist.
* Tom McIntosh, American trombonist and composer.10 – Gerorge Tucker, American upright bassist.15 – Gene Quill, American alto saxophonist.20 – Charlie Callas, American comedian and actor.22 – Ronnie Ball, English pianist.25 – Ernie Andrews, American singer.27 – Bill Crow, American bassist and author.