1987 in jazz

Events

April

• 10 – The 14th Vossajazz started in Vossavangen, Norway (April 10 – 12).

May

• 20 – The 15th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 20 – June 3).

June

• 5 – The 16th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (June 5 – 8).
• 26 – The 8th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (June 26 – July 6).

July

• 2 – The 21st Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland (July 2 – 19).
• 10 – The 12th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands (July 10 – 12).

August

• 21 – The 4th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales (April 21 – 23).

September

• 15 – The 30th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 15 – 17).

Album releases

• Henry Threadgill: Easily Slip Into Another World
• Anthony Davis: Undine
• Steve Lacy: Momentum
• John Zorn: Spillane
• Sun Ra Arkestra: Reflections in Blue
• Sun Ra Arkestra: Hours After
• Hank Roberts: Black Pastels
• Marilyn Crispell: Labyrinths
• Guy Klucevsek: Scenes From A Mirage
• David Torn: Cloud About Mercury
• Bobby Previte: Dull Bang, Gushing Sound, Human Shriek
• Tim Berne: Sanctified Dreams
• Borbetomagus: Fish That Sparkling Bubble
• Marty Ehrlich: Pliant Plaint
• Tim Berne: Fulton Street Maul
• Benny Carter: Central City Sketches
• Bobby Previte: Pushing The Envelope
• Phil Woods: Bouquet
• Danny Gottlieb: Aquamarine
• Dave Holland: The Razor's Edge
• Elements: Illumination
• Henry Kaiser: Crazy Backwards Alphabet
• Henry Kaiser: Devil In The Drain
• Kenny Wheeler: Flutter By, Butterfly
• Mark Helias: The Current Set
• Michael Brecker: Michael Brecker
• Montreux: Sign Language
• Sonny Sharrock: Seize the Rainbow
• Mulgrew Miller: Wingspan
• Neil Swainson: 49th Parallel
• Earthworks: Earthworks
• Chick Corea Elektric Band: Light Years
• Michael Franks: The Camera Never Lies
• Eliane Elias: Cross Currents
• Hugh Masekela: Tomorrow

Deaths

; January

• 14 – Alton Purnell, American pianist (born 1911).
• 16 – Robert De Kers, Belgian trumpeter and bandleader (born 1906).

; February

• 2
  • Alfred Lion, German-American record executive, Blue Note Records (born 1908).
  • Spike Hughes, British upright bassist, composer, and music journalist (born 1908).

;March

• 1 – Freddie Green, American guitarist (born 1911).
• 6 – Eddie Durham, American guitarist, trombonist, composer, and arranger (born 1906).

;April

• 2 – Buddy Rich, American drummer and bandleader (born 1917).
• 7 – Maxine Sullivan, American singer (born 1911).

;May

• 4 — Wilbur Little, African-American bassist (born 1928).
• 12 – Victor Feldman, English pianist and percussionist (born 1934).

;July

• 17 – Howard McGhee, American trumpeter (born 1918).

;September

• 21 – Jaco Pastorius, American bass guitarist (born 1951).

;October

• 15 – Pete Carpenter, American trombonist (born 1914).
• 29 – Woody Herman, American clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader (born 1913).

; December

• 10 – Slam Stewart, American upright bassist (born 1914).
• 18 – Warne Marsh, American tenor saxophonist (born 1927).

Births

; January

• 28 – Eldar Djangirov, American pianist.

; February

• 5 – Shai Maestro, Israeli pianist.
• 6 – Kaja Draksler, Slovenian pianist and composer.
• 15 – Trygve Waldemar Fiske, Norwegian upright bassist.
• 27 – Cory Henry, American organist, pianist, and music producer.

; March

• 13 – Harald Lassen, Norwegian saxophonist and pianist.
• 19 – Thana Alexa, Croatian-American vocalist and composer.

; April

• 11 – Joss Stone, English singer, songwriter and actress.
• 15 – Marquis Hill, American trumpeter, composer and bandleader.
• 26 – Kim-Erik Pedersen, Norwegian saxophonist.
• 30 – August Rosenbaum, Danish pianist, composer, and arranger

; May

• 10 – Typh Barrow, Belgian singer, songwriter, composer and pianist.

; July

• 17 – Tigran Hamasyan, Armenian pianist and composer.
• 26 – Evelina Sašenko, Lithuanian singer of Polish-Ukrainian descent.

; September

• 11 – Bjørn Marius Hegge, Norwegian upright bassist and composer, Hegge.
• 18 – Luísa Sobral, Portuguese singer and songwriter.

; October

• 12 – Bjørnar Kaldefoss Tveite, Norwegian upright bassist (Morning Has Occurred).
• 25 – André Drage, Norwegian drummer and composer.

; November

• 12 – Jamison Ross, American drummer and vocalist.
• 13 – Hanna Paulsberg, Norwegian tenor saxophonist and composer.

;December

• 12 – Marte Eberson, Norwegian pianist, keyboardist and composer.
• 25 – Julian Lage, American guitarist and composer.

; Unknown date

• Anja Lauvdal, Norwegian pianist, keyboardist, and composer.
• Hanne Kalleberg, Norwegian singer and composer.
• Mario Tomić, Croatian guitarist, arranger, composer, and producer.
• Oscar Grönberg, Swedish-Norwegian pianist.
• Thea Hjelmeland, Norwegian singer and songwriter.

References

References

1. "Vossajazz". [[Vossajazz]].
2. "Nattjazz". [[Nattjazz]].
3. "Moers Festival 1987". [[Moers Festival]].
4. "Festival International de Jazz de Montréal Timeline". [[Montreal International Jazz Festival]].
5. "Montreux Jazz Festival 1987 Setlists". Setlist.fm.
6. "North Sea Jazz Festival 1987". [[North Sea Jazz Festival]].
7. (March 2025). "Brecon Jazz Festival 1987". FriendsOfBreconJazz.com.
8. "The Monterey Jazz Festival Poster". Ebay.com.