1981 in jazz
This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1981.
Events
April
10 – The 8th Vossajazz started in Vossavangen, Norway.May
20 – 9th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway.June
2 – The 2nd Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.5 – 10th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany.July
3 – The 15th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland.10 – The 6th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands.September
18 – The 24th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California.Album releases
- Stanley Clarke and George Duke: The Clarke/Duke Project
- Al Jarreau: Breakin' Away
- Lee Ritenour: Rit
- Ronald Shannon Jackson: Street Priest
- Jan Garbarek: Paths, Prints
- Anthony Davis: Episteme
- Joe McPhee: Topology
- Paul Motian: Psalm
- Rova Saxophone Quartet: As Was
- Marilyn Crispell: Spirit Music
- Muhal Richard Abrams: Blues Forever
- Henry Kaiser: Aloha
- Sergey Kuryokhin: The Ways of Freedom
- David Moss: Terrain
- David Murray: Home
- Frank Lowe: Skizoke
- Willem Breuker: In Holland
- Ronald Shannon Jackson: Nasty
- Billy Bang: Rainbow Gladiator
- Don Moye: Black Paladins
- Frederic Hand: Heart's Song
- Jaco Pastorius: Word of Mouth
- Joanne Brackeen: Special Identity
- Hal Russell: NRG Ensemble
- Marvin Peterson: The Angels of Atlanta
- Oscar Peterson: Nigerian Marketplace
- Saheb Sarbib: Aisha
- Steve Douglas: Rainbow Suite
- Steve Khan: Eyewitness
- Wynton Marsalis: Wynton Marsalis
- Keith Tippett: Mujician
- Larry Carlton: Strikes Twice
- Pharoah Sanders: ''Rejoice''
Deaths
; January9 – Cozy Cole, American drummer.21 – Russell Procope, American clarinettist and alto saxophonist.; February23 – Shep Fields, American bandleader, clarinetist, and tenor saxophonist.28 – Jean Robert, Belgian saxophonist.
; March5 – Red Saunders, American drummer and bandleader.20 – Sonny Red, American alto saxophonist.
; April3 – Polo Barnes, American clarinetist and saxophonist.29 – Cat Anderson, American trumpeter.
; May12 – Frank Weir, British orchestra leader and saxophonist.25 – Georg Malmstén, Finnish singer, musician, composer, orchestra conductor, and actor.28 – Mary Lou Williams, African-American pianist and composer.
; July21 – Snub Mosley, American trombonist.
; August3 – Seymour Österwall, Swedish tenor saxophonist, bandleader, and composer.4 – Tommy Turk, American trombonist.24 – Bill Coleman, American trumpeter.
; September9
- * Fernand Coppieters, Belgian pianist and organist.
- * Helen Humes, American singer.13 – Bob Bates, American upright bassist.
Births
; January18 – Martin Taxt, Norwegian tubist.; February18 – Kamasi Washington, American saxophonist, composer, producer, and bandleader.20 – Chris Thile, American mandolinist, singer, songwriter, composer, and radio personality.24 – Gwilym Simcock, British pianist and composer.
; March10
- * Elina Duni, Albanian singer and composer.
- * Lars Horntveth, Norwegian multi-instrumentalist, band leader, and composer.13 – Ivo Neame, British pianist, saxophonist, and composer, Phronesis.
; May3 – Alexander Hawkins, British pianist, bandleader, and composer.19 – Dan Forshaw, English saxophonist and educator.20 – Carmen Souza, Portuguese singer and songwriter of Cape Verdean heritage.
; June3 – Sam Amidon, American singer and songwriter.16 – Ola Kvernberg, Norwegian violinist and composer.
; July13
- * Olavi Louhivuori, Finnish drummer and composer.
- * Sigurd Hole, Norwegian upright bassist, Eple Trio.21 – Paloma Faith, English singer, songwriter, and actress.
; September3 – Jørgen Munkeby, Norwegian multi-instrumentalist and singer.
; October18 – Sarah Buechi, Swiss singer.20 – Kaori Kobayashi, Japanese saxophonist and flautist. 24 – Fredrik Mikkelsen, Norwegian guitarist and composer.26 – Erlend Slettevoll, Norwegian pianist, Grand General.
; December17 – Kim Myhr, Norwegian guitarist and composer, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra.18 – Maciej Obara, Polish saxophonist.
; Unknown date
- Anders Thorén, Swedish drummer.
- Andy Davies, Welsh trumpeter.
- Ivar Loe Bjørnstad, Norwegian drummer.