1991 in jazz

Events

March

• 22 – The 18th Vossajazz started in Vossavangen, Norway (March 22 – 24).

May

• 17 – The 20th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (May 17 – 20).
• 22 – The 19th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 22 – June 2).

July

• 2 – 25th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Switzerland (July 2 – 21).
• 11 – The 16th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague (July 11 – 14).

August

• 16 – The 8th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales (April 16 – 18).

September

• 20 – The 34th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 20 – 22).

Unknown date

• Carla Bley divorced Michael Mantler.
• Carla Bley was married to Steve Swallow.

Album releases

• Steve Lacy: Remains
• Wayne Horvitz: Bring Your Camera
• John Butcher: Thirteen Friendly Numbers
• Guy Klucevsek: Flying Vegetables of the Apocalypse
• Michael Formanek: Extended Animation
• Randy Weston: Spirits Of Our Ancestors
• Bill Frisell: Where in the World?
• Don Byron: Tuskegee Experiments
• Marilyn Crispell: Images
• Chick Corea Elektric Band: Beyond the Mask
• Bobby Previte: Weather Clear, Track Fast
• Music Revelation Ensemble: After Dark
• Sonny Sharrock: Ask the Ages
• Steve Coleman: Black Science
• Joe Lovano: From the Soul
• David Sanborn: Another Hand
• Don Pullen: Kele Mou Bana
• Terje Rypdal: Q.E.D.
• Jackie McLean: Rites of Passage
• Joanne Brackeen: Is It Really True
• John Scofield: Meant to Be
• John Patitucci: Heart of the Bass
• Julius Hemphill: Fat Man and the Hard Blues
• London Jazz Composers' Orchestra: Theoria
• Wynton Marsalis: Blue Interlude
• Marty Ehrlich: Side by Side
• Tim Berne: Can't Put My Finger On It
• Joanne Brackeen: Where Legends Dwell
• Joey Baron: Tongue in Groove
• Max Roach: To the Max
• Robert Dick: Venturi Shadows
• Freddie Hubbard: Temptation
• Fred Hersh: Forward Motion
• Steve Swallow: Swallow
• Marcus Roberts: As Serenity Approaches
• Steve Turre: Right There
• Trilok Gurtu: Living Magic
• Branford Marsalis: The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born
• Christy Doran: What a Band
• Yellowjackets: Politics
• David S. Ware: Great Bliss, Vol. 1
• David S. Ware: Great Bliss, Vol. 2
• Eliane Elias: A Long Story

Deaths

; January

• 4
  • Eddie Barefield, American saxophonist, clarinetist, and arranger (born 19091).
  • Leo Wright, American alto saxophonist, flautist, and clarinetist (born 1933).
• 10 – Bob Wallis, British trumpeter (born 1934).
• 14 – Miles Copeland Jr., American musician (born 1916).

; February

• 10 – Tío Tom, Afro-Cuban musician (born 1919).
• 26 – Slim Gaillard, American singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, vibraphonist, and tenor saxophonist (born 1916).

; March

• 3 – Sal Nistico, American tenor saxophonist (born 1938).
• 15 – Bud Freeman, American tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, and composer (born 1906).
• 20 – Billy Butler, American guitarist (born 1924).
• 25 – Rusty Bryant, American tenor and alto saxophonist (born 1929).
• 31 – John Carter, American clarinetist, saxophonist, and flautist (born 1929).

; April

• 1
  • Bjarne Nerem, Norwegian tenor saxophonist, alto saxophonist, and clarinetist (born 1923).
  • Jon Eardley, American trumpeter (born 1928).
• 16 – Ove Lind, Swedish clarinetist (born 1926).
• 19 – Barry Rogers, American trombonist (born 1935).

; May

• 3 – Harry Gibson, American pianist, singer, and songwriter (born 1915).
• 8 – Kenny Trimble, American trombonist (born 1919).

; June

• 6 – Stan Getz, American saxophonist (born 1927).
• 23 – Masayuki Takayanagi, Japanese guitarist (born 1932).
• 29 – Richard Holmes, American organist (born 1931).

; July

• 24 – Tullio Mobiglia, Italian saxophonist and bandleader (born 1911).
• 31 – Charlie Beal, American pianist (born 1908).

; August

• 4 – Jeri Southern, American pianist and singer (born 1926).
• 10 – Buster Smith, American alto saxophonist (born 1904).

; September

• 4 – Charlie Barnet, American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader (born 1913).
• 28 – Miles Davis American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer (born 1926).

; October

• 1 – Stu Williamson, American trumpeter and valve trombonist (born 1933).

; November

• 9 – Lance Hayward, Bermudan-American pianist (born 1916).

; December

• 8 – Buck Clayton, American trumpeter (born 1911).
• 12 – Ronnie Ross, British baritone saxophonist (born 1933).
• 18 – King Kolax, American trumpeter and bandleader (born 1912).
• 22 – Beaver Harris, American drummer (born 1936).
• 31 – Pat Patrick, American baritone saxophonist, alto saxophonist, and guitar bassist (born 1929).

Births

; February

• 4 – Kjetil Mulelid, Norwegian pianist and composer.

; March

• 27 – Braxton Cook, American alto saxophonist and composer.

; April

• 10 – Andreas Skår Winther, Norwegian drummer.
• 23 – Jean Rondeau, French harpsichordist.
• 26 – Will Heard, English singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.

; May

• 10 – Jimmy Macbride, American drummer and composer.

; June

• 11 – Aaron M. Johnson, American jazz saxophonist and bandleader.

; July

• 26 – Nathan Hartono, Indonesian multi-instrumentalist and vocalist.

; September

• 21 – Ai Kuwabara, Japanese pianist.
• 25 – Per Kamfjord, Norwegian drummer.

; October

• 20 – Henrik Lødøen, Norwegian drummer.

; Unknown date

• Bendik Baksaas, Norwegian electronica artist.
• Magnus Bakken, Norwegian saxophonist.
• Olli Soikkeli, Finnish guitarist.

References

References

1. (30 December 2014). "Vossajazz – Historie". [[Vossajazz]].
2. "Moers Festival 1987". [[Moers Festival]].
3. "Nattjazz". [[Nattjazz]].
4. "Montreux Jazz Festival 1991 Setlists". Setlist.fm.
5. "North Sea Jazz Festival 1991". [[North Sea Jazz Festival]].
6. (March 2025). "Brecon Jazz Festival 1991". FriendsOfBreconJazz.com.
7. (July 2021). "The Monterey Jazz Festival Collections". EarlNewmanPrints.com.
8. "Bley, Carla (Lovella May Borg)". Jazz.com.
9. "Carla Bley – Biography". Amoeba.com.
10. Yanow, Scott. "Sal Nistico". [[AllMusic.com]].
11. "Alphonse Trent". [[Discogs.com]].
12. Chambers, J. K.. (1998). "Milestones: The Music and Times of Miles Davis". Da Capo Press.