1968 in jazz

Events

June

• 12 – The 2nd Montreux [Jazz Festival] started in Montreux, Switzerland.
• 30 – The 15th Newport Jazz Festival started in Newport, Rhode Island.

Unknown date

• The English avant-rock ensemble Henry Cow was founded at Cambridge University.

Album releases

• Peter Brötzmann: Machine Gun
• Don Cherry: Eternal Rhythm
• Chick Corea: Now He Sings, Now He Sobs
• Miles Davis: Filles de Kilimanjaro
• Bill Evans: Bill Evans at the Montreux Jazz Festival
• Milt Jackson: Milt Jackson and the Hip String Quartet
• Roland Kirk: Left & Right
• Michael Mantler: The [Jazz Composer's Orchestra (album)|The Jazz Composer's Orchestra]
• Hugh Masekela: The Promise of a Future
• Roscoe Mitchell: Congliptious
• Modern Jazz Quartet: Under the Jasmin Tree
• Sun Ra: Outer Spaceways Incorporated
• Horace Silver: Serenade to a [Soul Sister ]
• Spontaneous Music Ensemble: Karyobin
• John Surman: John Surman
• McCoy Tyner: Tender Moments
• Kenny Wheeler: Windmill Tilter
• Gary Bartz: Another Earth
• Pat Martino: Baiyina (The Clear Evidence)
• Charles Tolliver: Paper Man
• Herbie Hancock: Speak [Like a Child (album)|Speak Like a Child]
• Miles Davis: Miles in the Sky
• Hugh Masekela: The Lasting Impression of Hugh Masekela
• Hugh Masekela: ''Africa '68''

Deaths

• 5 – Luckey Roberts, American composer and stride pianistr.
• 15 – Little Walter, American singer and harmonica player.
• 27 – Frankie Lymon, American singer .

• 5 – Monk Hazel, American drummer.

• 15 – Wes Montgomery, American guitarist.
• 26 – Ziggy Elman, American trumpeter.

• 18
• * Jack Bland, American banjoist and guitarist.
• * Eyvin Andersen, Danish organist, violinist, and composer.

• 9 – Jan Johansson, Swedish pianist
• 23 – Reinhold Svensson, Swedish pianist, Hammond organist, and composer.

• 31 – George Lewis, American clarinetist.

• Jay Wilbur, British bandleader.

Births

• 19 – Jørn Øien, Norwegian pianist.
• 21 – Frank Kvinge, Norwegian guitarist.

• 4 – Tim Lefebvre, American bass guitarist.
• 18 – Jukka Perko, Finnish saxophonist.
• 19 – Stochelo Rosenberg, Dutch guitarist.
• 22 – Rodney Whitaker, American upright bassist.

• 1 – Per Oddvar Johansen, Norwegian drummer.
• 2 – Rune Brøndbo, Norwegian keyboardist and guitarist.
• 6 – Jakob Dinesen, Danish saxophonist.
• 21 – Vincent Courtois, French cellist.
• 22 – Arve Henriksen, Norwegian trumpeter and multiinstrumentalist.
• 24 – Sherman Irby, American alto saxophonist.

• 30 – Russ Nolan, American saxophonist.

• 1 – D'arcy Wretzky American bassist, The Smashing Pumpkins.
• 9 – Anthony Wilson, American guitarist.
• 19 – Kyle Eastwood, American bassist.

• 6 – Alan Licht, American guitarist, composer, and journalist, Run On.
• 19 – John Hollenbeck, American drummer and composer, The Claudia Quintet.

• 10 – David Gald, Norwegian guitarist.
• 16 – Finn Guttormsen, Norwegian bassist.
• 17 – Julia Hülsmann, German pianist and composer.

• 4 – Eric Alexander, American saxophonist.
• 18 – Ernie Hammes, Luxembourgian trumpeter, arranger, composer, and big band director.
• 20 – Frode Barth, Norwegian guitarist.
• 28 – Larry Goldings, American pianist, organist, and composer.
• 30 – Vahagn Hayrapetyan, Armenian pianist, singer, and composer.

• 9 – David Sánchez, Puerto Rican tenor saxophonist.
• 13 – Bernie Williams, Puerto Rican former professional baseball player and musician.
• 30 – Antonio Hart, American alto saxophonist.

• 14 – Ken Ford, American violinist.
• 30 – Sylvie Courvoisier, Swiss composer, pianist, and improviser.

• 7 – Noël Akchoté, French guitarist.
• 16 – Lalah Hathaway, American singer.

• Jean David Blanc, French film producer, writer, and jazz musician.