This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1997. Events March 21 – The 24th Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway (March 21 – 23). May 16 – The 26th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (May 16 – 19). 21 – The 25th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 21 – 31). June 26 – The 18th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (June 26 – July 6). July 2 – The 7th Jazz Fest Wien started in Wien, Austria (July 2 – 13). 4 – The 31st Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland (July 4 – 19). 11 The 22nd North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands (July 11 – 13). The 50th Nice Jazz Festival started in France (July 11 – 20). 12 – The 32nd Pori Jazz Festival started in Finland (July 12 – 20). 15 – The 38th Moldejazz started in Molde, Norway (July 15 – 20). August 8 – The 14th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales (August 8 – 10). September 19 – The 40th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 19 – 21). October 7 – Blue Note – A Story of Modern Jazz, by jazz documentarist and filmmaker Julian Benedikt, an award-winning documentary film. Album releases October Unknown date Guillermo Gregorio: Ellipsis Matthew Shipp: Strata Steve Coleman: Genesis Marcus Roberts: Blues for the New Millennium ICP Orchestra: Jubilee Varia Vandermark 5: Single Piece Flow David Liebman: Time Immemorial Wynton Marsalis: Blood on the Fields Franz Koglmann: O Moon My Pin Up Courtney Pine: Underground Leo Smith: Golden Hearts Remembrance Keith Tippett: Colours Fulfilled Joe Lovano: Trio Fascination David Liebman: The Elements - Water Fred Anderson: Fred Anderson / DKV Trio Deaths January 8 – George Handy, American arranger, composer, and pianist (born 1920). 12 – Wally Rose, American pianist (born 1913). 16 – Beverly Peer, American upright bassist (born 1912). 25 – Seldon Powell, American tenor saxophonist and flautist (born 1928). February 10 – Lou Bennett, American organist (born 1926). 14 – Charles Moffett, American drummer (born 1929). 20 – Zachary Breaux, American guitarist (born 1960). 23 – Tony Williams, American drummer (born 1945). March 11 – Hugh Lawson, American pianist (born 1935). May 10 – Bernard Anderson, American trumpeter (born 1919). 12 – Louis Barbarin, American drummer (born 1902). 14 – Thelma Carpenter, American singer and actress (born 1922).