1949 in jazz


This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1949.
In 1949 Bebop dominates the scene, but Dixieland is still being played. Miles Davis makes the first recordings with other artists of what will be known as Cool Jazz. The first LPs are issued, as are the first 45s.

Shows, movies and events

Begone Dull Care is an animated film directed by Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambart, giving a visual presentation of Oscar Peterson's jazz music.My Foolish Heart was a film starring Dana Andrews and Susan Hayward that was panned by the critics, but the title song "My Foolish Heart", written by singer Billie Holiday and sung by Martha Mears, was a hit and became a jazz standard.

Recordings

Industry and technology

Deaths

; January14 – George Baquet, American clarinetist.
; February14 – Seymour Simons, American pianist, composer, orchestra leader, and radio producer.
; March20 – Irving Fazola, American clarinetist.
; April 11 – Herbie Haymer, American reedist, known primarily as a saxophonist in big bands.21 – Snoozer Quinn, American guitarist.25 – Kid Rena, American trumpeter.
; July2 – Bud Scott, American guitarist, banjoist, and singer.7 – Bunk Johnson, New Orleans trumpeter.11 – Danny Polo, American clarinetist.
; August18 – Paul Mares, American early dixieland jazz cornet & trumpet player, and leader of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings.20 – Louis Nelson Delisle, dixieland clarinetist.
; October23 – Buster Wilson, American pianist.
; December3 – Albert Ammons, American pianist, a player of boogie-woogie.28 – Ivie Anderson, American singer.

Births

; January6 – Chris Laurence, English upright bassist.21 – David Moss, American composer, percussionist, and singer.22 – Phil Miller, English guitarist.25 – Paul Murphy, American drummer.27 – Djavan, Brazilian singer and songwriter.29 – Vincent Klink, German trumpeter, chef, and restaurateur.
; February16 – Michel Herr, Belgian pianist, composer, and arranger.17 – Fred Frith, English guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and improvisor, Henry Cow.18 – Justo Almario, Colombian flutist and saxophonist.
; March16 – Jerry Goodman, American violinist Mahavishnu Orchestra.29
; April2 – Per Husby, Norwegian pianist and composer.3 – Eric Kloss, American saxophonist.22 – David Attwooll, British drummer, poet, and publisher, Henry Cow.
; May1 – Tim Hodgkinson, British experimental music composer, performer, and reedist, Henry Cow.5
; June5 – Jerry Gonzalez, American trumpeter and percussionist.12 – John Wetton, English singer, bassist, and songwriter .14 – Papa Wemba, American soul singer.20 – Harald Halvorsen, Norwegian trombonist.21 – Christy Doran, Irish guitarist.26 – Gyula Babos, Hungarian guitarist.29 – Richard James Burgess, English singer, drummer, electronic musician, songwriter, producer, and composer.
; July6 – Phyllis Hyman, American singer and actress.17 – Chico Freeman, American tenor saxophonist and trumpeter.30 – Duck Baker, American acoustic guitarist.
; August6
; September2 – Knut Borge, Norwegian journalist, entertainer, and jazz enthusiast.3 – Onaje Allan Gumbs, American pianist, composer, and bandleader.9 – Larry Stabbins, British saxophonist, flautist, and composer.10 – Viktor Paskov, Bulgarian writer, musician, and musicologist.14 – Peter Guidi, Scottish saxophonist and flutist.19 – Sally Potter, English composer, musician, film director, actor, and screenwriter.24 – Bill Connors, American guitarist, Return to Forever.27 – Allan C. Barnes, American saxophonist.
; October5 – Thomas Clausen, Danish pianist.13 – Ray Brown, Jr., American pianist and singer.17 – Kazutoki Umezu, Japanese saxophonist.23 – Tristan Honsinger, American cellist.
; November6 – Arturo Sandoval, Cuban trumpeter, pianist and composer.7 – David S. Ware, American saxophonist and composer.14 – Raúl di Blasio, Argentine pianist.21 – Rainer Brüninghaus, German pianist and composer.30 – Bill Reichenbach Jr., American trombonist and composer.
; December5
; Unknown date
  • Jesper Zeuthen, Danish saxophonist composer.