1994 in jazz


This is a timeline documenting events of jazz in the year 1994.

Events

March

25 – The 21st Vossajazz started in Vossavangen, Norway.

May

20 – The 23rd Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany.26 – The 22nd Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway.

July

1

August

12 – The 11th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales.

September

16 – The 37th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California.

Album releases

Deaths

; January1 – James Clay, American tenor saxophonist and flutist.30 – Tiny Davis, American trumpeter and vocalist.
; February8 – Raymond Scott, American composer, band leader, pianist, and electronic instrument inventor.
; March9 – Maurice Purtill or Moe Purtill, American drummer, Glenn Miller Orchestra.13 – Danny Barker, American guitarist, banjoist, vocalist, and author.19 – Rafig Babayev, Azerbaijani musician and composer.24 – Tommy Benford, American drummer.
;April2 – Rowland Greenberg, Norwegian trumpeter.6 – Dick Cary, American trumpeter, composer, and arranger.16 – Ralph Ellison, American novelist and literary critic.22 – Jack Bentley, English trombonist, journalist, and scriptwriter.
; May23 – Joe Pass, American guitarist of Sicilian descent.25 – Eric Gale, American guitarist.26
;June7 – Willie Humphrey, American clarinetist.14
  • * Henry Mancini, American composer, conductor, and arranger.
  • * Lionel Grigson, British pianist, cornettist, trumpeter, and composer.21 – Dennis Berry, English saxophonist, composer, arranger, and producer.
; July11 – Lex Humphries, American drummer.
; August6 – Jacques Pelzer, Belgian alto saxophonist and flautist.12 – Gene Cherico, American upright bassist.18 – Charles Redland, Swedish saxophonist, bandleader, and composer.
; September5 – Billy Usselton, American jazz reed player.6 – Max Kaminsky, American trumpeter and bandleader.13 – John Stevens, English drummer, Spontaneous Music Ensemble.16 – Bernie Leighton, American pianist.20 – Jimmy Hamilton, American clarinetist, tenor saxophonist, and composer.22
; October3 – Scoville Browne, American reedist.4 – Danny Gatton, American guitarist.5 – Nini Rosso, Italian jazz trumpeter and composer.8 – John Neely, American tenor saxophonist and arranger.21
; November4 – Jack Sharpe, English saxophonist and bandleader.7 – Shorty Rogers, American trumpeter and flugelhornist.10 – Carmen McRae, American singer, composer, pianist, and actress.18 – Cab Calloway, American singer and bandleader.28 – Al Levitt, American drummer.30 – Connie Kay, American drummer.
; December8 – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Brazilian composer, pianist, songwriter, arranger, and singer.14 – Mary Ann McCall, American singer.19

Births

; February8 – Nikki Yanofsky, Canadian singer.
; March23 – Gentle Bones, Singaporean singer and composer.
; April9 – Jo David Meyer Lysne, Norwegian guitarist and composer.
; May
; Unknown date