1937 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of '''Jazz in the year 1937.'''

Events

Charlie Parker starts collaboration with pianist Jay McShann, and plays in his band in Kansas City from time to time until 1941.

Deaths

; February1– Alex Hill American pianist.
; March15– Ward Pinkett, American jazz trumpeter.
; July11– George Gershwin, American composer and pianist.
; August20– Johnny Dunn, American trumpeter and vaudeville performer.
; September26– Bessie Smith, American blues singer, nicknamed the "Empress of the Blues" .

Births

; January1 – Neville Dickie, English pianist.6 – Paolo Conte, Italian singer, pianist, composer, and lawyer.9 – Malcolm Cecil, British bassist.17 – Ted Dunbar, American guitarist, composer, and educator.19 – Phil Wilson, American trombonist.29 – Jeff Clyne, British bassist.
; February1 – Erik Amundsen, Norwegian upright bassist.3 – Bobby Durham, American drummer.5 – Big Bill Bissonnette, American trombonist, drummer and producer.9 – Len Skeat, English upright bassist.10 – Ed Polcer, American cornetist.11 – Brian Lemon, British pianist and arranger.15

* Kirk Lightsey, American pianist.
* Nathan Davis, American saxophonist, flautist, and multi-instrumentalist.19
* Fred Van Hove, Belgian pianist, accordionist, church organist, carillonist, and composer.
* Robert Walker, American guitarist.20 – Nancy Wilson, American singer.21 – Graham Collier, English bassist, bandleader and composer.25 – Don Randi, American keyboarder, bandleader and songwriter.

; March4 – Barney Wilen, French saxophonist and composer.5 – Carol Sloane, American singer.7 – Roy Williams, English trombonist.12 – Janne Carlsson, Swedish drummer and actor.16 – Brian Browne, Canadian pianist and composer.20 – Eddie Shaw, American saxophonist.24 – Billy Stewart, American singer.31 – Rafig Babayev, Azerbaijani musician and composer.
; April3 – Louis Satterfield, American bassist and trombonist, The Pharaohs.6 – Gene Bertoncini, American guitarist.11 – Bud Brisbois, American trumpeter.13 – J. R. Mitchell, American drummer.22 – Jack Nitzsche, American saxophonist and pianist.24

* Joe Henderson, American tenor saxophonist.
* Spanky DeBrest, American bassist.

; May4 – Ron Carter, American upright bassist.10 – Mike Melvoin, American pianist, composer, and arranger.15 – Karin Krog, Norwegian vocalist.24

* Archie Shepp, American saxophonist.
* Charly Antolini, Swiss drummer.26 – Neil Ardley, English pianist and composer.30 – Claes Andersson, Finland-Swedish pianist, psychiatrist, author, and poet.31 – Louis Hayes, American drummer.

; June2 – Pierre Favre, Swiss drummer and percussionist.3 – Grachan Moncur III, American trombonist.4 – Mark Whitecage, American saxophonist.8 – Toni Harper, American singer.13 – Frank Strozier, American alto saxophonist.14 – Burton Greene, American pianist.22 – Bernie McGann, Australian alto saxophonist.23 – Elza Soares, Brazilian singer and samba recording artist.26 – Reggie Workman, American upright bassist.30 – Börje Fredriksson, Swedist tenor saxophonist.
; July22 – Bob Downes, English flautist and saxophonist.27 – Charlie Shoemake, American vibraphonist.30 – James Spaulding, American alto saxophonist and flautist.
; August6

* Baden Powell, Brazilian guitarist.
* Charlie Haden, American upright bassist.7 – George Bohanon, American trombonist.14
* Barbara Jay, British singer.
* Terry Evans, American singer and guitarist.17 – Guitar Gable, American singer, guitarist, and songwriter.27 – Alice Coltrane, American pianist, organist, harpist and composer.31 – Gunter Hampel, German vibraphonist, clarinetist, saxophonist, flautist, pianist and composer.

; September3 – Larry Ridley, American bassist and music educator.4 – Gene Ludwig, American organist.6 – Bosse Broberg, Swedish trumpeter and composer.7 – Olly Wilson, American composer, pianist, double bassist, and musicologist.8 – Joe Gallivan, American drummer, percussion, and synthesizer player.14 – Joseph Jarman, American saxophonist, Art Ensemble of Chicago.20 – Monica Zetterlund, Swedish singer and actress.25

* Horace Arnold, American drummer.
* Michael Gibbs, Rhodesian composer, trombonist, and keyboardist.27 – Guido Basso, Canadian trumpeter.

; October4 – Leon Thomas, American singer.19 – John Crocker, English clarinettist and saxophonist.
; November6 – Gordon Brisker, American tenor saxophonist.27 – Wilber Morris, American upright bassist and bandleader.30 – Miúcha, Brazilian singer and composer.
; December4 – Ernie Carson, American cornetist, pianist and singer.6 – Eddie Gladden, American drummer.7 – Mike Carr, English organist, pianist and vibraphonist.11 – Beegie Adair, American pianist.16 – Joe Farrell, American saxophonist and flautist.19 – Milcho Leviev, Bulgarian composer, arranger, and pianist.
; Unknown date

Barry Vercoe, Zealand-born computer scientist and composer.
Bill Cole, American musician, professor of music, and author.
Brad Terry, American clarinetist and whistler.
Humberto Clayber, Brazilian composer and musician.