1995 in jazz
This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1995.
Events
April
- 7 – The 22nd Vossajazz started in Vossavangen, Norway.
May
June
- 2 – The 24th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany.
- 29 – The 16th Montreal International [Jazz Festival] started in Canada.
July
- 1 – The 5th Jazz Fest Wien started in Wien, Austria.
- 7 – The 29th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Switzerland.
- 14 – The 20th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands.
- 15 – The 30th Pori Jazz Festival started in Finland.
- 17 – The 36th Moldejazz started in Molde, Norway.
- * The 48th Nice Jazz Festival started in France.
- 21 – The 30th San Sebastian Jazz Festival started in San Sebastian, Spain.
August
- 11 – The 12th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales.
September
- 15 – The 38th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California.
Unknown date
- The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz opens their first performance classes of jazz.
Album releases
- Butch Morris: Testament
- Dave Douglas: In Our Lifetime
- Matthew Shipp: The Flow of X
- Charlie Hunter: Bing, Bing, Bing!
- Marvin Peterson: African Portraits
- Guy Klucevsek: Citrus My Love
- Marty Ehrlich: Just Before The Dawn
- Matthew Shipp: Symbol Systems
- Gerry Hemingway: Marmalade King
- Steve Turre: Rhythm Within
- Medeski Martin and Wood: Friday Afternoon in the Universe
- Reggie Workman: Cerebral Caverns
- Muhal Richard Abrams: One Line, Two Views
- Dave Douglas: Five
- Bill Frisell: Go West
- Pat Metheny Group: We Live Here
- Henry Threadgill: Makin' a Move
- Dave Holland: Dream of the Elders
- Paul Plimley: Everything in Stage
- John Scofield: Groove Elation
- Chick Corea Quartet: Time Warp
- Matthew Shipp: Before the World
- Don Byron: Music for Six Musicians
- Uri Caine: Toys
- Carol Sloane with Phil Woods: The Songs Carmen Sang
- Michael Franks: Abandoned Garden
- Roy Campbell:Communion
- Marilyn Crispell: Destiny
- David S. Ware: Cryptology
- Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola, Jean-Luc Ponty: ''The Rite of Strings''
Deaths
; January- 1 – Jess Stacy, American pianist.
- 6 – Art Taylor, American drummer.
- 5 – Vivian Stanshall, English singer-songwriter, musician, author, poet, and wit, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.
- 30 – Rozelle Claxton, American pianist.
- 31 – Max Brüel, Danish pianist and saxophonist.
- 2 – Julius Hemphill, American composer and saxophonist.
- 7 – Ray McKinley, American drummer, singer, and bandleader.
- 9 – Marshall Royal, American clarinetist and alto saxophonist.
- 10
- * Jimmy Raney, American guitarist.
- * Karl Drewo, Austrian saxophonist.
- 15 – Minoru Matsuya, Japanese pianist.
- 23 – Mick Pyne, English pianist.
- 4 – Earle Warren, American alto saxophonist and singer.
- 5 – Bucky Calabrese, American upright bassist.
- 30 – Phyllis Hyman, American singer and actress.
- 13 – Aimé Barelli, French trumpeter, vocalist, and band leader.
- 22 – Percy Humphrey, American trumpeter and bandleader.
- 11 – Phil Harris, American comedian, actor, singer, and musician.
- 20 – John Gilmore, American saxophonist.
- 12 – Larry Gales, American upright bassist.
- 19 – Don Cherry, American trumpeter.
- 19 – Don Goldie, American trumpeter.
- 30 – Ralph Flanagan, American pianist, composer, and arranger.
- Jacques Denjean, French composer and arranger, Les Double Six.
- Roger Chaput, French guitarist and visual artist, Quintette du Hot Club de France.
Births
; April- 21 – Alma Macbride, American pianist, composer, and film maker.
- 9 – Andrea Motis, Spanish singer and trumpeter.
- 9 – Selma French Bolstad, Norwegian singer, fiddler, and composer.