This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1998. Events January 29 – The very first Polarjazz started in Longyearbyen, Svalbard (February 29 – 31). April 3 – The 25th Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway (April 3 – 5). May 20 – The 26th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 20 – 31). June 2 – The 27th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (June 2 – 5). July 1 – The 19th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (July 1 – 12). 2 – The 8th Jazz Fest Wien started in Wien, Austria (July 2 – 10). 3 – The 32nd Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland (July 3 – 18). 10 The 23rd North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands (July 10 – 12). The 33rd Pori Jazz started in Pori, Finland (July 10 – 19). August 7 – The 15th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales (August 7 – 9). September 18 – The 41st Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 18 – 20). Album releases Dave Douglas: Convergence Paul Plimley: Sensology Vandermark 5: Target Dr Flag Zeena Parkins: Pan-Acousticon Evan Parker: Drawn Inward Dave Holland: Points of View Roy Campbell: Ancestral Homeland Hugh Masekela: Black to the Future Deaths January 1 – Dave Schildkraut, American alto saxophonist (born 1925). 8 – Jimmy Butts, American upright bassist (born 1917). 16 – Tommy Pederson, American trombonist and composer (born 1920). 22 – Anselmo Sacasas, Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer, and arranger (born 1912). 24 – Walter Bishop Jr., American pianist (born 1927). 25 – Attila Zoller, American guitarist (born 1927). 26 – Orlando DiGirolamo, American accordionist, pianist, and composer (born 1924). February 5 – Nick Webb, English guitarist and composer, Acoustic Alchemy (born 1954). 13 – Thomas Chapin, American composer, saxophonist, and multi-instrumentalist (born 1957). March 2 – Marzette Watts, American tenor and soprano saxophonist (born 1938). 12 – Red Richards, American pianist (born 1912). 15 – Tim Maia, Brazilian musician, songwriter and businessman (born 1942). 22 – George Howard, American saxophonist (born 1956). 24 – Denis Charles, American drummer (born 1933). 27 – Jimmy Campbell, American drummer (born 1928). April 3 – Alvin Tyler, American saxophonist and arranger (born 1925). 9 – Tom Cora, American cellist and composer (born 1953). 21 – Helen Ward, American singer (born 1913). 24 – Mel Powell, American pianist, composer and