1994 in jazz

Events

March

• 25 – The 21st Vossajazz started in Vossavangen, Norway (March 25 – 27).

May

• 20 – The 23rd Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (June 20 – 23).
• 26 – The 22nd Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 26 – June 5).

July

• 1
  • The 17th Copenhagen Jazz Festival started in Copenhagen, Denmark (July 1–10).
  • The 4th Jazz Fest Wien started in Wien, Austria (July 1–15).
  • The 15th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (July 1–16).
  • The 28th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland (July 1–16).
• 8 – The 19th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague (July 8–10).
• 16 – The 29th Pori Jazz started in Pori, Finland (July 16–24).
• 18 – The 35th Moldejazz started in Molde, Norway (July 18–23).

August

• 12 – The 11th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales (August 12–14).

September

• 16 – The 37th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 16–18).

Album releases

• Myra Melford: Even the Sounds Shine
• Toshiko Akiyoshi: Desert Lady
• Matthew Shipp: Critical Mass
• Pat Metheny: Zero Tolerance for Silence
• Henry Threadgill: Carry the Day
• Ken Vandermark: Solid Action
• Steve Coleman: Def Trance Beat
• Chick Corea: Expressions
• Misha Mengelberg: Mix
• Bobby Previte: Slay the Suitors
• Joshua Redman: MoodSwing
• Franklin Kiermyer: Solomon's Daughter
• Mark Helias: Loopin' the Cool
• Jessica Williams: Momentum
• Fred Anderson: Vintage Duets
• David S. Ware: Earthquation
• Eliane Elias: Solos and Duets
• Hugh Masekela: Hope
• Ray Anderson, Han Bennink and Christy Doran: Azurety
• John Surman Quartet: Stranger Than Fiction
• Wallace Roney: Mistérios
• Peter Erskine: Time Being
• Louis Sclavis and Dominique Pifarély: Acoustic Quartet
• Carol Sloane: When I Look in Your Eyes
• Edward Vesala with Sound & Fury: Nordic Gallery
• Red Sun and SamulNori: Then Comes The White Tiger
• Krakatau: Matinale
• John Abercrombie Trio: Speak of the Devil
• Trevor Watts and the Moire Music Ensemble: A Wider Embrace
• Jan Garbarek with Anouar Brahem and Ustad Shaukat Hussain: Madar
• Don Cherry with Bobo Stenson and Lennart Åberg: Dona Nostra
• Vincent Herring: The Days of Wine and Roses
• Michel Camilo: One More Once
• Marilyn Crispell: Stellar Pulsations / Three Composers
• Karl Berger: Conversations
• Charlie Haden's Quartet West: Always Say Goodbye
• European Music Orchestra: Guest

Deaths

; January

• 1 – James Clay, American tenor saxophonist and flutist (born 1935).
• 30 – Tiny Davis, American trumpeter and vocalist (born 1909).

; February

• 8 – Raymond Scott, American composer, band leader, pianist, and electronic instrument inventor (born 1908).

; March

• 9 – Maurice Purtill or Moe Purtill, American drummer, Glenn Miller Orchestra (born 1916).
• 13 – Danny Barker, American guitarist, banjoist, vocalist, and author (born 1909).
• 19 – Rafig Babayev, Azerbaijani musician and composer (born 1937).
• 24 – Tommy Benford, American drummer (born 1905).

;April

• 2 – Rowland Greenberg, Norwegian trumpeter (born 1920).
• 6 – Dick Cary, American trumpeter, composer, and arranger (born 1916).
• 16 – Ralph Ellison, American novelist and literary critic (born 1913).
• 22 – Jack Bentley, English trombonist, journalist, and scriptwriter (born 1913).

; May

• 23 – Joe Pass, American guitarist of Sicilian descent (born 1929).
• 25 – Eric Gale, American guitarist (born 1938).
• 26
  • Gil Fuller, American composer and arranger (born 1920).
  • Sonny Sharrock, American guitarist (born 1940).
• 27 – Red Rodney, American trumpeter (born 1927).
• 29 – Oliver Jackson, American drummer (born 1933).
• 30 – Jean Omer, Belgian reedist and bandleader (born 1912).

;June

• 7 – Willie Humphrey, American clarinetist (born 1900).
• 14
  • Henry Mancini, American composer, conductor, and arranger (born 1924).
  • Lionel Grigson, British pianist, cornettist, trumpeter, and composer (born 1942).
• 21 – Dennis Berry, English saxophonist, composer, arranger, and producer (born 1921).

; July

• 11 – Lex Humphries, American drummer (born 1936).

; August

• 6 – Jacques Pelzer, Belgian alto saxophonist and flautist (born 1924).
• 12 – Gene Cherico, American upright bassist (born 1935).
• 18 – Charles Redland, Swedish saxophonist, bandleader, and composer (born 1911).

; September

• 5 – Billy Usselton, American jazz reed player (born 1926).
• 6 – Max Kaminsky, American trumpeter and bandleader (born 1908).
• 13 – John Stevens, English drummer, Spontaneous Music Ensemble (born 1940).
• 16 – Bernie Leighton, American pianist (born 1921).
• 20 – Jimmy Hamilton, American clarinetist, tenor saxophonist, and composer (born 1917).
• 22
  • Bob Lively, American saxophonist (born 1923).
  • Leonard Feather, British pianist, composer, and producer (born 1914).
• 29 – David van Kriedt, American composer, saxophonist, and music teacher (born 1922).

; October

• 3 – Scoville Browne, American reedist (born 1909).
• 4 – Danny Gatton, American guitarist (born 1945).
• 5 – Nini Rosso, Italian jazz trumpeter and composer (born 1926).
• 8 – John Neely, American tenor saxophonist and arranger (born 1930).
• 21
  • Lanny Steele, American pianist and composer (born 1933).
  • Thore Ehrling, Swedish trumpeter, composer, and bandleader (born 1912).

; November

• 4 – Jack Sharpe, English saxophonist and bandleader (born 1930).
• 7 – Shorty Rogers, American trumpeter and flugelhornist (born 1924).
• 10 – Carmen McRae, American singer, composer, pianist, and actress (born 1922).
• 18 – Cab Calloway, American singer and bandleader (born 1907).
• 28 – Al Levitt, American drummer (born 1932).
• 30 – Connie Kay, American drummer (born 1927).

; December

• 8 – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Brazilian composer, pianist, songwriter, arranger, and singer (born 1927).
• 14 – Mary Ann McCall, American singer (born 1919).
• 19
  • Bill Douglass, American drummer (born 1923).
  • Noel Pointer, American jazz violinist and record producer (born 1954).

Births

; February

• 8 – Nikki Yanofsky, Canadian singer.

; March

• 23 – Gentle Bones, Singaporean singer and composer.

; April

• 9 – Jo David Meyer Lysne, Norwegian guitarist and composer.

; May

; Unknown date

• Amalie Holt Kleive, Norwegian singer and composer.
• Billie Black, British singer.
• Veronica Swift, American singer.

References

References

1. (30 December 2014). "Vossajazz – Historie". [[Vossajazz]].
2. "Moers Festival 1993". [[Moers Festival]].
3. "Nattjazz". [[Nattjazz]].
4. "1994 Copenhagen Jazz Festival – Original Vintage Poster". [[Copenhagen Jazz Festival]].
5. "Jazz Fest Wien Festival History". [[Jazz Fest Wien]].
6. "Festival International de Jazz de Montréal". [[Montreal International Jazz Festival]].
7. "Montreux Jazz Festival 1994 Setlists". Setlist.fm.
8. "North Sea Jazz Festival 1993". [[North Sea Jazz Festival]].
9. "History of Pori Jazz". [[Pori Jazz]].
10. "Molde International Jazz Festival Norway: July 16–24 1994". Catawiki.com.
11. (March 2025). "Brecon Jazz Programme 1994". FriendsOfBreconJazz.com.
12. "50 Years of Monterey Jazz Festival Posters". EarlNewmanPrints.com.
13. "Willie Humphrey". [[Discogs.com]].
14. (2003). "Jacques Pelzer".
15. Yanow, Scott. "Jonah Jones". [[AllMusic]].