This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1981. Events April 10 – The 8th Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway (April 10 – 12). May 20 – 9th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 20 – June 3). June 2 – The 2nd Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (July 2 – 10). 5 – 10th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (June 5 – 8). July 3 – The 15th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland (July 3 – 19). 10 – The 6th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands (July 10 – 12). September 18 – The 24th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 18 – 20). Album releases Stanley Clarke and George Duke: The Clarke/Duke Project Al Jarreau: Breakin' Away Lee Ritenour: Rit Ronald Shannon Jackson: Street Priest Jan Garbarek: Paths, Prints Anthony Davis: Episteme Joe McPhee: Topology Paul Motian: Psalm Rova Saxophone Quartet: As Was Marilyn Crispell: Spirit Music Muhal Richard Abrams: Blues Forever Henry Kaiser: Aloha Sergey Kuryokhin: The Ways of Freedom David Moss: Terrain David Murray: Home Frank Lowe: Skizoke Willem Breuker: In Holland Ronald Shannon Jackson: Nasty Billy Bang: Rainbow Gladiator Don Moye: Black Paladins Frederic Hand: Heart's Song Jaco Pastorius: Word of Mouth Joanne Brackeen: Special Identity Hal Russell: NRG Ensemble Marvin Peterson: The Angels of Atlanta Oscar Peterson: Nigerian Marketplace Saheb Sarbib: Aisha Steve Douglas: Rainbow Suite Steve Khan: Eyewitness Wynton Marsalis: Wynton Marsalis Keith Tippett: Mujician Larry Carlton: Strikes Twice Pharoah Sanders: Rejoice Deaths January 9 – Cozy Cole, American drummer (born 1909). 21 – Russell Procope, American clarinettist and alto saxophonist (born 1908). February 23 – Shep Fields, American bandleader, clarinetist, and tenor saxophonist (born 1910). 28 – Jean Robert, Belgian saxophonist (born 1908). March 5 – Red Saunders, American drummer and bandleader (born 1912). 20 – Sonny Red, American alto saxophonist (born 1932). April 3 – Polo Barnes, American clarinetist and saxophonist (born 1901). 29 – Cat Anderson, American trumpeter (born 1916). May 12 – Frank Weir, British orchestra leader and saxophonist (born 1911). 25 – Georg Malmstén, Finnish singer, musician, composer, orchestra conductor, and actor (born 1902). 28 – Mary Lou Williams, African-American pianist and composer (born 1910). July 21 – Snub Mosley, American trombonist (born 1905). August 3 – Seymour Österwall, Swedish tenor saxophonist, bandleader, and composer (born 1908). 4 – Tommy Turk, American