1986 in jazz
This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1986.
Events
March
- 21 – The 13th Vossajazz started in Vossavangen, Norway.
May
- 16 – 15th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany.
- 21 – 14th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway.
June
- 27 – The 7th Montreal International [Jazz Festival] started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
July
- 3 – The 20th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland.
- 11 – The 11th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands.
August
- 15 – The 3rd Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales.
September
- 19 – The 29th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California.
Album releases
- 16–17: 16–17
- Tim Berne: Fulton Street Maul
- Ran Blake: Short Life of Barbara Monk
- Larry Carlton: Alone / But Never Alone
- Larry Carlton: Discovery
- John Carter: Dance of Love Ghosts
- Steve Coleman: On the Edge of Tomorrow
- Christy Doran: Red Twist and Tuned Arrow
- Eliane Elias: Illusions
- ICP Orchestra: Bospaadje Konijnehol I
- Kenny G: Duotones
- Steve Lacy: Outings
- Last Exit: Last Exit
- Last Exit: Koln
- Lyle Mays: Lyle Mays
- Pat Metheny & Ornette Coleman: Song X
- James Newton: Romance and Revolution
- Evan Parker: Atlanta
- Evan Parker: The Snake Decides
- Courtney Pine: Journey to the Urge Within
- Ned Rothenberg: Trespass
- Arturo Sandoval: Tumbaito
- Sonny Sharrock: Guitar
- Michael Shrieve: In Suspect Terrain
- Jim Staley: Mumbo Jumbo
- Henry Threadgill: You Know the Number
- Cecil Taylor: For Olim
- Bobby Watson: Love Remains
- Kazumi Watanabe: The [Spice of Life (Kazumi Watanabe album)|Spice Of Life]
- Reggie Workman: Synthesis
- John Zorn: Cobra
- Bill Bruford: Master Strokes 1978–1985
Deaths
; January- 26 – Ken Moule, English pianist, composer, and arranger.
- 29 – Everett Barksdale, American guitarist.
- 26 – Karel Vlach, Czech musician, orchestra conductor, and arranger.
- 21 – Raymond Burke, American clarinetist.
- 26 – Cliff Leeman, American drummer.
- 19 – Jimmy Lyons, American alto saxophonist.
- 30 – Hank Mobley, American tenor saxophonist.
- 13 – Benny Goodman, American clarinetist and bandleader.
- 29 – Cliff Townshend, English saxophonist and clarinetist.
- 3 – Curley Russell, American upright bassist.
- 31 – Teddy Wilson, American pianist.
- 21 – Thad Jones, American trumpeter.
- 2 – Billy Taylor, American upright bassist.
- 10 – Pepper Adams, American baritone saxophonist and composer.
- 22 – Thorgeir Stubø, Norwegian guitarist, band leader, and composer.
- 27 – Alan Branscombe, English pianist, vibraphonist, and alto saxophonist.
- 3 – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, American tenor saxophonist.
- 23 – Svein Øvergaard, Norwegian saxophonist and percussionist.
- 2 – Paul Bascomb, American tenor saxophonist.
- Arthur Rosebery, English pianist and singer.
Births
; January- 2 – Trombone Shorty, American trombonist, vocalist and composer.
- 4 – Theo Jackson, British songwriter, pianist and vocalist.
- 12 – Philip Schjetlein, Norwegian guitarist.
- 27 – Takashi Matsunaga, Japanese pianist and composer.
- 10 – Justin Kauflin, American pianist, composer, and record producer.
- 11 – Ayumi Tanaka, Japanese pianist.
- 19 – Susanne Sundfør, Norwegian singer and songwriter.
- 20 – Roxy Coss, American saxophonist and composer.
- 23 – Laura Mvula, British singer, songwriter, and composer.
- 18 – Adam Bałdych, Polish violinist, composer, music producer.
- 26 – Kit Downes, British pianist and composer.
- 24 – Ivan Blomqvist, Swedish pianist, keyboarder, and composer.
- 11 – Jakop Janssønn Hauan, Norwegian drummer.
- 21 – Rebecca Ferguson, British singer and songwriter.
- 10
- * Marcus Gilmore, American drummer.
- * Ellen Andrea Wang, Norwegian upright bassist and singer.
- 8 – Nikola Rachelle, British singer and songwriter.
- 11 – Jon Batiste, American singer, multi-instrumentalist, and bandleader.
- 12 – Jonas Kilmork Vemøy, Norwegian trumpeter, and composer.
- 13 – Miss Tati, Norwegian DJ, singer, and songwriter.
- 2 – Tal Wilkenfeld, Australian bass guitarist.
- 27 – Pablo Held, German pianist and composer.
- 29 – Sullivan Fortner, American pianist and composer.
- Adrián Carrio, Spanish pianist.
- Emilie Stoesen Christensen, Norwegian singer and actor.
- Jon Audun Baar, Norwegian drummer.
- Julia Kadel, German pianist, composer, and band leader.
- Lars Ove Fossheim, Norwegian jazz guitarist.
- Romano Ricciardi, Italian-Swiss saxophonist.
- Sasha Masakowski, American singer.