1962 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1962.

Events

; January17 – Claude Jones, American trombonist.
; February5 – Doug Watkins, American upright bassist.11 – Leo Parker, American baritone saxophonist.
; March24 – Jean Goldkette, American pianist and bandleader.
; April13 – John Graas, American French horn player, composer, and arranger.25 – Eddie South, American jazz violinist.
; May8 – Donald Lambert, American stride pianist.
; July12 – Roger Wolfe Kahn, American musician, composer, and bandleader.28 – Eddie Costa, American pianist.
; August11 – Israel Crosby, American upright bassist.
; December13 – Harry Barris, American singer, composer, and pianist.

; January7 – Tor Haugerud, Norwegian drummer, Transjoik.11 – Steve Oliver, American guitarist.22 – Jimmy Herring, American guitarist.
; February2 – Tapani Rinne, Finnish saxophonist, composer and record producer.4 – Jude Abbott, English vocalist and trumpeter.25 – Snorre Bjerck, Norwegian percussionist.28 – Caroline Henderson, Danish–Swedish singer.
; March13 – Terence Blanchard, American trumpeter, bandleader, composer, and arranger.24 – Renee Rosnes, American pianist, composer and arranger.
; April2 – Thomas Blachman, Danish drummer and composer.3 – Dennis Mackrel, American drummer, composer, and arranger.9 – Arthur Maia, Brazilian jazz and samba bassist and composer.27 – Kenn Smith, American guitarist, bassist, composer, educator and journalist
; May9 – Jon Klette, Norwegian saxophonist.11 – Robert Balzar, Czech upright bassist and composer.12 – Aydin Esen, Turkish pianist, keyboarder, and electronics player.18 – Huw Warren, Welsh pianist and composer.20

* Cynthia Sayer, American banjoist and vocalist.
* Ralph Peterson Jr., American drummer and bandleader.30 – Darrell Grant, American pianist, vocalist, composer, and educator.

; June2 – Ian Shaw, Welsh singer.4 – Winard Harper, American drummer.16 – Femi Kuti, Nigerian singer, songwriter and saxophonist.23 – Andrej Šeban, Slovak guitarist.
; July12 – Mike Walker, English guitarist.21 – Lee Aaron, Canadian singer.24 – Marion Meadows, American soprano saxophonist.29 – Lisa Ono, Japanese-Brazilian bossa nova singer and guitarist.
; August2 – Billy Kilson, American drummer.9 – Edsel Gomez, Puerto Rican pianist.10 – Julia Fordham, British singer-songwriter.11 – Mike Jones, American pianist.19 – Angelo Debarre, French Romani guitarist.31 – Joanna Connor, American singer, songwriter and guitarist.
; September7

* Paul Tobey, Canadian pianist.
* Rob Bargad, American pianist, organist, songwriter, arranger, educator, and producer.8
* Cecilia Coleman, American pianist, composer, and bandleader.
* Glauco Venier, Italian pianist and composer.25 – Craig Handy, American tenor saxophonist.

; October1 – Fred Lonberg-Holm, American cellist.12 – Chris Botti, American trumpeter and composer.19 – Bendik Hofseth, Norwegian saxophonist and singer.20 – Dado Moroni, Italian pianist and composer.
; November11 – James Morrison, Australian trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist.12 – Eddie Benitez, Puerto Rican guitarist.27 – Euge Groove, American saxophonist.28 – Ronny Jordan, American guitarist.
; December8

* Olaf Kamfjord, Norwegian bassist.
* Tim Armacost, American saxophonist.9 – Mia Žnidarič, Slovenian singer.15 – Nils Einar Vinjor, Norwegian guitarist and composer.28
* Brian Kellock, Scottish pianist
* Michel Petrucciani, French pianist.
* Rachel Z, American pianist and keyboardist.

; Unknown date