1981 in jazz
Introduction 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 trombonist (born 1927). * '''24''' – Bill Coleman, American trumpeter (born 1904). ; September* '''9'''** Fernand Coppieters, Belgian pianist and organist (born 1905). ** Helen Humes, American singer (born 1913). * '''13''' – Bob Bates, American upright bassist (born 1923). ; December* '''15''' – Samuel Jones, American upright bassist, cellist and composer (born 1924). * '''17''' – Roy McCloud, American cornetist (born 1909). * '''27''' – Hoagy Carmichael, American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader (born 1899).
Births ; January* '''18''' – Martin Taxt, Norwegian tubist. ; February* '''18''' – Kamasi Washington, American saxophonist, composer, producer, and bandleader. * '''20''' – Chris Thile, American mandolinist, singer, songwriter, composer, and radio personality. * '''24''' – Gwilym Simcock, British pianist and composer. ; March* '''10'''** Elina Duni, Albanian singer and composer. ** Lars Horntveth, Norwegian multi-instrumentalist, band leader, and composer. * '''13''' – Ivo Neame, British pianist, saxophonist, and composer, Phronesis. ; April* '''3''' – Erik Nylander, Swedish drummer, improviser, and composer, Magic Pocket. * '''27''' – Hilde Marie Kjersem, Norwegian singer and songwriter. ; May* '''3''' – Alexander Hawkins, British pianist, bandleader, and composer. * '''19''' – Dan Forshaw, English saxophonist and educator. * '''20''' – Carmen Souza, Portuguese singer and songwriter of Cape Verdean heritage. ; June* '''3''' – Sam Amidon, American singer and songwriter. * '''16''' – Ola Kvernberg, Norwegian violinist and composer. ; July* '''13'''** Olavi Louhivuori, Finnish drummer and composer. ** Sigurd Hole, Norwegian upright bassist, Eple Trio. * '''21''' – Paloma Faith, English singer, songwriter, and actress. ; August* '''8''' – Maria Ylipää, Finnish singer and actress. * '''14''' – Thomas Morgan, American upright bassist and cellist. * '''16''' – Øystein Moen, Norwegian pianist and keyboarder. * '''26''' – Gwyneth Herbert, British singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. ; September* '''3''' – Jørgen Munkeby, Norwegian multi-instrumentalist and singer. ; October* '''18''' – Sarah Buechi, Swiss singer. * '''20''' – Kaori Kobayashi, Japanese saxophonist and flautist. * '''24''' – Fredrik Mikkelsen, Norwegian guitarist and composer. * '''26''' – Erlend Slettevoll, Norwegian pianist, Grand General. ; December* '''17''' – Kim Myhr, Norwegian guitarist and composer, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. * '''18''' – Maciej Obara, Polish saxophonist. ; Unknown date* Anders Thorén, Swedish drummer. * Andy Davies, Welsh trumpeter. * Ivar Loe Bjørnstad, Norwegian drummer.
See also * 1980s in jazz* List of years in jazz* 1981 in music
References
External links *  History Of Jazz Timeline: 1981 at All About Jazz