1981 in jazz

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

• 9 – Cozy Cole, American drummer.
• 21 – Russell Procope, American clarinettist and alto saxophonist.

• 23 – Shep Fields, American bandleader, clarinetist, and tenor saxophonist.
• 28 – Jean Robert, Belgian saxophonist.

• 5 – Red Saunders, American drummer and bandleader.
• 20 – Sonny Red, American alto saxophonist.

• 3 – Polo Barnes, American clarinetist and saxophonist.
• 29 – Cat Anderson, American trumpeter.

• 12 – 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.

• 21 – Snub Mosley, American trombonist.

• 3 – Seymour Österwall, Swedish tenor saxophonist, bandleader, and composer.
• 4 – Tommy Turk, American trombonist.
• 24 – Bill Coleman, American trumpeter.

• 9
• * Fernand Coppieters, Belgian pianist and organist.
• * Helen Humes, American singer.
• 13 – Bob Bates, American upright bassist.

• 15 – Samuel Jones, American upright bassist, cellist and composer.
• 17 – Roy McCloud, American cornetist.
• 27 – Hoagy Carmichael, American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader.

Births

• 18 – Martin Taxt, Norwegian tubist.

• 18 – 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.

• 10
• * Elina Duni, Albanian singer and composer.
• * Lars Horntveth, Norwegian multi-instrumentalist, band leader, and composer.
• 13 – Ivo Neame, British pianist, saxophonist, and composer, Phronesis.

• 3 – Erik Nylander, Swedish drummer, improviser, and composer, Magic Pocket.
• 27 – Hilde Marie Kjersem, Norwegian singer and songwriter.

• 3 – 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.

• 3 – Sam Amidon, American singer and songwriter.
• 16 – Ola Kvernberg, Norwegian violinist and composer.

• 13
• * Olavi Louhivuori, Finnish drummer and composer.
• * Sigurd Hole, Norwegian upright bassist, Eple Trio.
• 21 – Paloma Faith, English singer, songwriter, and actress.

• 8 – Maria Ylipää, Finnish singer and actress.
• 14 – Thomas Morgan, American upright bassist and cellist.
• 16 – Øystein Moen, Norwegian pianist and keyboarder.
• 26 – Gwyneth Herbert, British singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer.

• 3 – Jørgen Munkeby, Norwegian multi-instrumentalist and singer.

• 18 – 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.

• 17 – Kim Myhr, Norwegian guitarist and composer, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra.
• 18 – Maciej Obara, Polish saxophonist.

• Anders Thorén, Swedish drummer.
• Andy Davies, Welsh trumpeter.
• Ivar Loe Bjørnstad, Norwegian drummer.