1947 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1947.

Events

The Fabulous Dorseys is released, a fictionalized biographical film that tells the story of the Dorsey Brothers, Tommy and Jimmy, from their boyhood in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, through their rise, their breakup, and their personal reunion.
Standards published included "Autumn Leaves", "But Beautiful" and "Nature Boy".

The Miles Davis All-Stars debuted at the Savoy.
Louis Armstrong performs at Carnegie Hall with his big band.
The Count Basie Orchestra take up a summer residency at the Paradise Club in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on 27 June, agreeing to perform on lower wages. They followed with a four-week stint at the Strand Theater in Lakewood, New Jersey, supporting Billie Holiday.

The Duel – Dexter Gordon and Teddy Edwards
Accordion Capers – the Biviano Rhythm Sextette with John Serry Sr. & Tony Mottola

; January16

; April1 – Freddie Webster, American trumpeter.
; July12 – Jimmie Lunceford, American alto saxophonist and bandleader.
; December7 – Austin Wylie, American jazz bandleader.
; Unknown date

; January4 – Chris Cutler, English percussionist, composer, lyricist, and music theorist, Henry Cow.6 – Fedor Frešo, Slovak bassist.9 – Nick Evans, Welsh trombonist.11

* Dee Daniels, American singer.
* Derf Reklaw or Fred Walker, American musician, composer, and vocalist, The Pharaohs.15 – Baikida Carroll, American trumpeter.

; February5

* Art Lande, American pianist, drummer, composer and educator.
* Chris Biscoe, English multi-instrumentalist.10 – Butch Morris, American cornetist, composer and conductor.14 – Glenn Spearman, American tenor saxophonist.20 – Carlo Domeniconi, Italian guitarist and composer.22 – Harvey Mason, American drummer.24
* Bob Magnusson, American bassist.
* Vladimir Chekasin, Russian saxophonist and keyboarder.25 – Ryo Kawasaki, Japanese guitarist.26
* Guy Klucevsek, American accordionist and composer.
* John Horler, English pianist.

; March1 – Norman Connors, American drummer and composer.4 – Jan Garbarek, Norwegian tenor and soprano saxophonist.8 – Paul Lytton, English percussionist.15

* Jean Carne, American singer.
* Stomu Yamashta, Japanese percussionist and keyboardist.22 – Marek Blizinski, Polish guitarist and composer.23 – Ray Phiri, South African jazz fusion singer and guitarist.24 – Paul McCandless, American woodwind player and composer, Oregon.28 – Paul Jackson, American bassist and composer.30 – Marilyn Crispell, American pianist and composer.

; April1

* Eric Ineke, Dutch drummer.
* Frank Tusa, American upright bassist, composer, and educator.
* Fred Nøddelund, Norwegian flugelhornist and band leader.2 – Linda Sharrock, American singer.4 – Ray Russell, English guitarist, record producer, and composer.11 – Frank Mantooth, American pianist and arranger.22 – Barry Guy, British composer and upright bassist.23 – Alan Broadbent, American pianist, arranger and composer.28
* Glenn Zottola, American trumpeter and saxophonist.
* Steve Khan, American guitarist.30
* Abdul Wadud, American cellist.
* Terje Venaas, Norwegian bassist.
* Bruce Hampton, American singer and guitarist, Hampton Grease Band.

; May5 – Marty Cook, American trombonist.10 – Ahmed Abdullah, American trumpeter.19 – Gregory Herbert, American saxophonist and flautist.22 – Franz Koglmann, Austrian composer.23 – Richie Beirach, American pianist and composer.31 – Greg Abate, American saxophonist, flautist, composer, and arranger.
; June8 – Julie Driscoll, English singer and actress.13 – Harold Danko, American pianist.14 – Darius Brubeck, American keyboardist and educator.16 – Tom Malone, American trombonist.21 – Junko Akimoto, Japanese singer.26 – Brian Abrahams, South African drummer and vocalist.30 – Jasper van 't Hof, Dutch pianist.
; July2 – Reggie Houston, American saxophonist.3

* John Blake Jr., American violinist.
* Grethe Kausland, Norwegian actress and singer .11 – Jon Marks, American pianist.20 – James "Plunky" Branch, African-American performer, songwriter, and music and film producer.

; August15 – Gerardo Velez, Puerto Rican musician.19 – Anders Bjørnstad, Norwegian trumpeter.23 – Terje Rypdal, Norwegian guitarist and composer.25 – Keith Tippett, British pianist and composer.
; September4 – Gary King, American bassist.5 – Charles "Bobo" Shaw, American drummer.6 – Bent Persson, Swedish trumpeter and cornetist.15 – Wesla Whitfield, American singer.20 – Billy Bang, American violinist and composer.21 – Bern Nix, American guitarist.
; October10 – Fred Hopkins, American upright bassist.11 – Mwata Bowden, American reeds player.13 – Alan Wakeman, English saxophonist, Soft Machine.14 – Norman Harris, American guitarist and songwriter.21 – Jerry Bergonzi, American tenor saxophonist, composer, and educator.30 – Gary M. Anderson, American musician.
; November10 – Greg Lake, English guitarist, bassist, singer, songwriter, and music producer.14 – Buckwheat Zydeco, American accordionist and zydeco musician .23 – Melton Mustafa, American trumpeter and flugelhornist, Count Basie Orchestra.
; December1 – Leo Cuypers, Dutch pianist and composer.3 – Percy Jones, Welsh bass guitarist, Brand X.4 – Andy LaVerne, American pianist, composer and arranger.5 – Egberto Gismonti, Brazilian composer, guitarist and pianist.6

* Carlos Averhoff, Cuban tenor saxophonist.
* Miroslav Vitouš, Czech upright bassist.
* Uli Beckerhoff, German composer, trumpeter, and academic.8 – Gregg Allman, American singer, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter, the Allman Brothers Band.13 – Chuck Findley, American trumpeter.19 – Thomas "Pae-dog" McEvoy, American hornist.21 – Paco de Lucía, Spanish guitarist, composer and producer.25 – Tomasz Szukalski, Polish saxophonist, composer, and improviser.

; Unknown date