1933 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1933.

Events

Louis Armstrong goes on a tour to Europe. He is a sensation on all stages in which he appears, and fills the Tivoli in Copenhagen eight nights in a row.
The Duke Ellington Band travels to Europe, and they are well received in England. Ellington is considered a significant composer in London.
Ellington records "Solitude" and "Sophisticated Lady".
Teddy Wilson is in New York City playing with the Benny Carter Band.
Bessie Smith records for the last time in a session arranged by John Hammond. "Gimme a Pigfoot" was recorded at this session.
Billie Holiday was discovered by John Hammond in Monette's in New York City. Billie record her singing with Benny Goodman.

; March
October 12th, Jimmy Wade, jazz trumpeter 26 – Eddie Lang, American guitarist, regarded as Father of Jazz Guitar.
; July15 – Freddie Keppard, jazz cornetist.
; September30 – William Krell, American bandleader and composer.

; January1

; February1 – Sadao Watanabe, Japanese saxophonist.2 – Orlando "Cachaito" López, Cuban bassist.3 – John Handy, American saxophonist.17 – Spike Heatley, British bassist.20 – Charles Kynard, American organist.21 – Nina Simone, American singer and pianist.24 – David "Fathead" Newman, American saxophonist.
; March3 – Jimmy Garrison, American upright bassist.4 – Ann Burton, Dutch singer.14

* Duke Carl Gregor of Mecklenburg, member of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and a music and art historian.
* Quincy Jones, American conductor, composer and trumpeter.17 – Dick Maloney, Canadian singer.23
* Andrzej Trzaskowski, Polish composer and musicologist.
* Dave Frishberg, American pianist, vocalist, and composer.26 – Donald Bailey, American drummer.28 – Tete Montoliu, Spanish-Catalonian pianist.

; April6 – Bill Hardman, American trumpeter and flugelhornist.8 – Paul Jeffrey, American tenor saxophonist.21 – Ian Carr, Scottish trumpeter, composer, writer, and educator. 27 – Calvin Newborn, American guitarist.28 – Oliver Jackson, American drummer.
; May5 – Cal Collins, American guitarist.14 – Stu Williamson, American trumpeter.20 – Charles Davis, American saxophonist and composer.22 – Eivind Solberg, Norwegian trumpeter.24 – Michael White, American violinist.30 – Michael Garrick, English pianist and composer.
; June20 – Lazy Lester, American singer and guitarist.
; July1 – Rashied Ali, American drummer.17 – Ben Riley, American drummer.20 – Mario Schiano, Italian saxophonist.
; August4 – Sonny Simmons, American saxophonist.10 – Trudy Pitts, American keyboardist.15 – Bill Dowdy, American drummer.19 – Asmund Bjørken, Norwegian accordionist and saxophonist.25

* Rune Gustafsson, Swedish guitarist.
* Wayne Shorter, American saxophonist and composer.27 – Rudolf Dašek, Czech guitarist.31 – Herman Riley, American tenor saxophonist.

; September1 – Gene Harris, American pianist.11 – Baby Face Willette, American Hammond organist.30 – Steve McCall, American drummer.
; October2 – Ronnie Ross, British baritone saxophonist.18 – Bross Townsend, American pianist.19 – Jimmy Dotson, American singer, guitarist, and drummer.23 – Gary McFarland, composer, vibraphonist, and singer.25 – Jack Petersen, American guitarist, pianist, and composer.
; November11

; December1

* Billy Paul, Congolese singer and musician.
* Lou Rawls, American singer and songwriter.4 – Denis Charles, American drummer.13 – Borah Bergman, American pianist.14 – Leo Wright, American saxophonist.16 – Johnny "Hammond" Smith, American organist.17
* John Ore, American bassist.
* Walter Booker, American upright bassist.18 – Lonnie Brooks, American blues singer and guitarist.23 – Frank Morgan, American saxophonist.26 – Billy Bean, American guitarist.29 – Brian Brown, Australian saxophones.30 – Lanny Steele, American pianist.

; Unknown date