2005 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 2005.

Events

* The 32nd Vossajazz started at Vossavangen, Norway.
* Berit Opheim was awarded Vossajazzprisen 2005.19 – Jan Gunnar Hoff performs the commissioned work Free flow songs for Vossajazz 2005.

13 – The 34th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany.25 – The 33rd Nattjazz 2005 started in Bergen, Norway.

* The 51st Newport Jazz Festival started in Newport, Rhode Island.
* The 22nd Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales.15 – The 20th Oslo Jazzfestival started in Oslo, Norway.23 – Hurricane Katrina destroys the "Cradle of Jazz", New Orleans.

; January4 — Humphrey Carpenter, English biographer, writer, and radio broadcaster.
; February8 — Jimmy Smith, American jazz organist.15 – Bill Potts, American pianist and arranger.20 – Pam Bricker, American singer and professor of music.
; March8 — Larry Bunker, American drummer.
; April7 — José Melis, Cuban-American bandleader and television personality.14

* Andrew Bisset, Australian author, music educator, and singer.
* Benny Bailey, American bebop and hard-bop trumpeter.19
* Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Danish jazz bassist .
* Stan Levey, American drummer.22 – Arnie Lawrence, American saxophonist.23 – Jimmy Woode, American upright bassist.28 – Percy Heath, American upright bassist.29 – Dianne Brooks, American singer.

; May12 – Monica Zetterlund, Swedish singer and actress.13 – Victor Sproles, American bassist.29 – Oscar Brown, American singer, songwriter, playwright, poet, civil rights activist, and actor.
; June15 – Per Henrik Wallin, Swedish pianist and composer.16 – Billy Bauer, American cool jazz guitarist.18

* Chris Griffin, American trumpeter
* Basil Kirchin, English drummer and composer.29 – Mikkel Flagstad, Norwegian saxophonist.

; July2 — Tom Talbert, American jazz pianist, composer, and band leader.4 — John Stubblefield, American saxophonist, flautist, and oboist.16 – Blue Barron, American orchestra leader.23 – Ted Greene, American fingerstyle jazz guitarist, columnist, and session musician.25 – Albert Mangelsdorff, German trombonists and composer.27 – Dom Um Romão, Brazilian drummer and percussionist.29 – Al McKibbon, American jazz double bassist.30 – Lucky Thompson, American jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist.
; August6 — Keter Betts, American upright bassist.12

* Charlie Norman, Swedish pianist and entertainer.
* Francy Boland, Belgian composer and pianist.15 – Earl Zindars, American composer, Bill Evans.23 – Glenn Corneille, Dutch pianist.

; September11 – Al Casey, American guitarist, Fats Waller's band.17 – Jack Lesberg, American upright bassist.25 – Georges Arvanitas, French pianist and organist.
; October3 — Alfredo Rodríguez, Cuban pianist.14 – Oleg Lundstrem, Soviet and Russian composer and conductor, Oleg Lundstrem Orchestra.16 – Elmer Dresslar Jr., American voice actor and singer.20 – Shirley Horn, American singer and pianist.
; November13 – Harry Gold, British saxophonist and bandleader.15 – Roy Brooks, American drummer.19 – Bob Enevoldsen, American tenor saxophonist and valve trombonist.
; December5 — Harry Pepl, Austrian guitarist.19 – Billy Amstell, British reedist.25 – Derek Bailey, English guitarist.26 – Bill DeArango, American guitarist.