1977 in jazz


This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1977.

Events

April

1 – The 4th Vossajazz started in Vossavangen, Norway.

May

25 – The 5th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway.27 – The 6th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany.

June

24 – The 24th Newport Jazz Festival started in Newport, Rhode Island.

July

1 – The 11th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland.15 – The 2nd North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands.

September

16 – The 20th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California.

Album releases

Deaths

; January2 – Erroll Garner, American pianist and composer.22 – Maysa Matarazzo, Brazilian singer, composer, and actress.
; February9 – Buddy Johnson, American pianist and bandleader.
  • Billy Taylor Jr., American upright bassist.
  • Julian Gould, American organist, pianist, and composer.
; March23 – Bennie Green, American trombonist.27 – Benny Moten, American upright bassist.
; April4 – Julius Watkins, American French hornist.7 – Moon Mullens, American trumpeter.21 – Joe Garland, American saxophonist, composer, and arranger, "In the Mood".
; May22 – Hampton Hawes, American pianist.30 – Paul Desmond, American alto saxophonist and composer.
; June6 – Art Mardigan, American drummer.
; July22 – Richie Kamuca, American jazz tenor saxophonist.27 – Milt Buckner, American jazz pianist and organist.
; September3 – Paloma Efron, Argentine singer.5 – George Barnes, American guitarist.
October16 – Milt Raskin, American pianist.
; November18 – Teddi King, American vocalist.19 – Sonny Criss, American alto saxophonist.
; December5 – Rahsaan Roland Kirk, American saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist.27 – Sam Brown, American guitarist.
; Unknown date

Births

; January8 – Torun Eriksen, Norwegian singer.10 – Rhian Benson, Ghanaian-British singer and songwriter.13 – Elliot Mason, English trombonist.28 – Sissel Vera Pettersen, Norwegian singer, saxophonist, and composer.31 – Per Zanussi, Italians–Norwegian upright bassist, composer, and band leader, Wibutee.
; February2 – Evelina De Lain, Ukrainian-English pianist, composer, and arranger.10 – Shahin Novrasli, Azerbaijani pianist.
; March4
; April5 – Håkon Kornstad, Norwegian tenor saxophonist and operatic tenor.21 – Andrea Veneziani, Italian upright bassist, composer, and arranger.28 – Asbjørn Lerheim, Norwegian guitarist and music teacher.30 – Ole Jørn Myklebust, Norwegian trumpeter, flugelhornist and vocalist.
; May10 – Jasper Høiby, Danish upright bassist, Phronesis.11 – Nicolai Munch-Hansen, Danish bassist and composer.23 – Mads Berven, Norwegian guitarist.
; June8 – Frøy Aagre, Norwegian saxophonist.9 – Atle Nymo, Norwegian saxophonist, Motif and Trondheim Jazz Orchestra.11 – Ozan Musluoğlu, Turkish upright bassist and bass guitarist, Athena.30 – Brynjar Rasmussen, Norwegian clarinetist.
; July4 – Sevda Alekbarzadeh, Azerbaijani female singer.11 – Will Vinson, English alto saxophonist and composer, OWL Trio.
; August18 – Even Kruse Skatrud, Norwegian trombonist, Funky Butt.27 – Quincy Davis, American drummer.
; September1 – Sinne Eeg, Danish singer.13 – Julius Lind, Norwegian upright bassist.20
; October2 – David Wallumrød, Norwegian pianist and organist, Needlepoint.6 – Matthew Bourne, British pianist and cellist.
; November1 – Anine Kruse, Norwegian singer and choral conductor, Pitsj.3 – Jane Monheit, American singer.5 – Ida Sand, Swedish singer and pianist.20 – Florian Weber, German pianist and composer.
; December12 – Lage Lund, Norwegian guitarist. 23
; Unknown date