1982 in jazz

Events

April

• 2 – The 9th Vossajazz started in Vossavangen, Norway.

May

• 26 – 10th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway.
• 28 – 11th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany.

June

• 2 – The 3rd Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

July

• 9 – The 16th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland.
• 16 – The 7th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands.

September

• 17 – The 25th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California.

Album releases

• Anthony Davis: Variations In Dream-time
• Henry Threadgill: When Was That?
• Air: 80° Below '82
• Billy Bang: Outline No. 12
• Dave Holland: Life Cycle
• David Murray: Murray's Steps
• Jane Ira Bloom: Mighty Lights
• Lol Coxhill: Instant Replay
• Dewey Redman: The Struggle Continues
• Steve Lacy: Flame
• Elements: Elements
• Errol Parker: Tentet
• James Ulmer: Black Rock
• Joe McPhee: Oleo
• John Carter: Dauwhe
• Sonny Simmons: Backwoods Suite
• Steps Ahead: Paradox
• Tony Coe: Tournee Du Chat
• Ronald Shannon Jackson: Mandance
• Warren Vaché: Midtown Jazz
• Paul Winter: Missa Gaia/Earth Mass
• Cecil McBee: Flying Out
• Jack DeJohnette: Inflation Blues
• Stanley Jordan: Touch Sensitive
• Kevin Eubanks: Guitarist
• Michael Franks: Objects of Desire
• Hugh Masekela: Home
• Claus Ogerman and Michael Brecker: ''Cityscape (Claus Ogerman and [Michael Brecker album)|Cityscape]''

Deaths

• 9 – Vido Musso, Italian-American tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader.

• 7 – Joseph Reinhardt, French guitarist and composer.
• 17 – Thelonious Monk, American pianist and composer.
• 26 – Gábor Szabó, Hungarian guitarist.

• 9 – Leonid Utyosov, Soviet singer and comic actor.
• 23 – Sonny Greer, American drummer and vocalist.

• 5 – Cal Tjader, American vibraphonist, drummer, and percussionist.

• 11 – Al Rinker, American singer and composer.
• 15 – Art Pepper, American alto saxophonist and clarinetist.
• 25 – Alex Welsh, Scottish singer, cornetist, and trumpeter.

• 9 – Wingy Manone, American trumpeter, composer, singer, and bandleader.
• 22 – Sonny Stitt, American saxophonist.

• 21 – Radka Toneff, Norwegian singer.

• 11 – Gösta Törner, Swedish jazz trumpeter and bandleader.
• 16 – Al Haig, American pianist.

• 17 – Big Joe Williams, American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.

Births

• 1 – Andreas Lønmo Knudsrød, Norwegian drummer, Splashgirl.

• 4 – Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen, Norwegian guitarist, singer, and composer.
• 5 – Marco Di Meco, Italian flautist, composer, music producer, and writer.
• 13 – Even Helte Hermansen, Norwegian guitarist, Bushman's Revenge and Red Kite.

• 8 – Isak Strand, Norwegian drummer, electronica artist, and sound engineer, Me At Sea.
• 9 – Erica von Kleist, American flautist, saxophonist, and composer.

• 2 – Daniel Herskedal, Norwegian tubist.
• 3 – Irene Kepl, Austrian violinist and composer.
• 9 – Øyvind Skarbø, Norwegian drummer and composer.
• 13 – Nellie McKay, British comedian, singer, songwriter, actor, and composer.
• 30 – Tyler Gilmore, American composer and orchestra conductor.

• 1 – Ambrose Akinmusire, American trumpeter and composer.
• 23
• * Malene Mortensen, Danish singer.
• * Martin Musaubach, Argentine band-leading pianist, composer, arranger and producer.

• 7 – Ferit Odman, Turkish drummer and composer.
• 28 – Mariam Wallentin, Swedish singer, musician, composer, and voice actor.

• 11 – Michel Reis, Luxembourgian jazz pianist and composer.

• 4 – Kassa Overall, American drummer, producer, rapper and bandleader.
• 4 – YolanDa Brown, British saxophonist and composer.
• 5 – Ronald Bruner Jr., American drummer, composer and producer.
• 8 – Veronika Harcsa, Hungarian singer and songwriter.
• 11 – Jonathan Fritzén, Swedish pianist and multi-instrumentalist.
• 12 – Émile Parisien, French soprano saxophonist, alto saxophonist, and composer.

• 9 – Jamie Lenman, British guitarist, musician, songwriter, singer, and illustrator.

• 3 – Eric Darius, American saxophonist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer.
• 4 – Adam Blackstone, American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and bassist.
• 6 – Ulysses Owens, American drummer and percussionist.
• 17 – Stephan Meidell, Norwegian guitarist and composer.
• 20 – Jessy J or Jessica Arellano, American saxophonist, flautist, singer, and pianist.
• 30 – Nir Felder, American jazz and session guitarist, composer, and music producer.

• Daniel Zamir, Israeli saxophonist and singer.