This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1981.
Events
April 10 – The 8th Vossajazz started in Vossavangen, 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