2004 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of jazz in the year 2004.

Events

January

22 – The 7th Polarjazz started in Longyearbyen, Svalbard.30 – The 23rd annual Djangofestival started on Cosmopolite in Oslo, Norway.

April

* The 31st Vossajazz started at Vossavangen, Norway.
* Magne Thormodsæter was awarded Vossajazzprisen 2004.3 – Svein Folkvord performs the commissioned work Across for Vossajazz 2004.

May

19 – The 32nd Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway.28 – The 33rd Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany.

Album released

August

Unknown date

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Maria Schneider and the Maria Schneider Orchestra: ''Concert in the Garden''

Deaths

; January11 – Anthony Lacen, American tubist and band leader.15 – Randolph Colville, Scottish clarinettist, saxophonist, bandleader, and arranger.22

* Billy May, American composer, arranger, and trumpeter.
* Milt Bernhart, American trombonist.25 – J. R. Mitchell, American drummer and educator.30
* Frank Mantooth, American pianist and arranger.
* Malachi Favors, American bassist.

; February12 – Preston Love, American alto saxophonist, bandleader, and songwriter.14 – Walter Perkins, American drummer.15 – Gil Coggins, American pianist.16 – Ella Johnson, American jazz and rhythm and blues vocalist.23

* Don Cornell, American singer.
* Neil Ardley, English pianist and composer.26
* Jack Sperling, American drummer.
* Jimmy Coe, American saxophonist.

; March9

* Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, American composer.
* John Mayer, Indian composer.
* Tony Lee, British pianist.16 – Hank Marr, American Hammond B-3 organist.18 – Wallace Davenport, American trumpeter.29 – Colin Smith, English trumpeter.

; April17 – Joe Kennedy Jr., American jazz violinist and educator.
; May6 — Barney Kessel, American guitarist .12 – John LaPorta, American clarinetist, composer and educator.17 – Elvin Jones, American drummer, John Coltrane Quartet.21 – Rick Henderson, American saxophonist and arranger.25 – John R. T. Davies, English trombonist, trumpeter, alto saxophonistaudio, and sound engineer.
; June4 — Steve Lacy, saxophonist and composer.9 — Bent Jædig, Danish tenor saxophonist and flautist.10 – Ray Charles, American singer-songwriter, musician, and composer.17 – Jackie Paris, American guitarist and singer.
; July20 – James Williams, American pianist.22 – Illinois Jacquet, American saxophonist.
; August2 — Don Tosti, American musician and composer.7 — G. T. Hogan, American drummer.9 — Tony Mottola, American guitarist.14 – Pete Strange, English trombonist.
; September10 – Gordon Brisker, American tenor saxophonist.19 – Waldren Joseph, American trombone.23 – Lucille Dixon Robertson, American upright bassist.27 – Louis Satterfield, American bassist and trombonist, The Pharaohs.
; October2

* Bjørnar Andresen, Norwegian bassist.
* Max Geldray, Dutch harmonica player.3 — Vernon Alley, American bassist.10 – Calvin Jones, American trombonist, bassist, pianist, bandleader, and composer.15 – Bill Eyden, English drummer.24 – Joe Springer, American pianist.28
* Gil Mellé, American saxophonist.
* Robin Kenyatta, American alto saxophonist.

; November1 — Mark Ledford, American trumpeter, singer, and guitarist.3 — Joe Bushkin, American pianist.6 — Pete Jolly, American pianist and accordionist.14 – Michel Colombier, French composer, arranger, and conductor.18 – Cy Coleman, American composer, songwriter, and pianist.20 – Bob Maize, American upright bassist.23 – Billy "Uke" Scott, British ukulele player, composer, singer, and entertainer.
; December12 – Frank Isola, American drummer.17 – Dick Heckstall-Smith, English saxophonist.26 – Sigurd Køhn, Norwegian saxophonist .27 – Hank Garland, American guitarist.30 – Artie Shaw, American clarinetist, composer, bandleader, and actor.