1909 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of jazz in the year 1909.

Events

 * Tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins started playing the piano at the age of five years.

Births

 * January
 * 13
 * Danny Barker, American guitarist, banjoist, vocalist, and author (died 1994).
 * Ed Burke, American violinist and trombonist (died 1988).
 * 15 – Gene Krupa, American jazz and big band drummer, band leader, actor, and composer (died 1973).
 * 22 – Mouse Randolph, American trumpeter (died 1997).
 * 24 – Tiny Winters, English bassist and vocalist (died 1996).


 * February
 * 4 – Artie Bernstein, American upright bassist (died 1964).
 * 20 – Oscar Alemán, Argentine guitarist, singer, and dancer (died 1980).


 * March
 * 2 – Narvin Kimball, American musician (died 2006).
 * 3 – Booker Pittman, American clarinetist (died 1969).
 * 9 – Herschel Evans, American tenor saxophonist (died 1939).
 * 21 – Miff Görling, Swedish bandleader, trombonist, arranger, and composer (died 1988).
 * 27 – Ben Webster, American tenor saxophonist (died 1973).


 * April
 * 15 – Wilbert Baranco, American pianist and bandleader (died 1983).
 * 16 – Pippo Starnazza, Italian singer and actor (died 1975).
 * 29 – Jacques Butler, American trumpeter and vocalist (died 2003).


 * May
 * 7 – Teddy Bunn, American guitarist, Spirits of Rhythm (died 1978).
 * 29 – Dick Stabile, American saxophonist and bandleader (died 1980).
 * 30 – Benny Goodman, American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing" (died 1986).


 * June
 * 8 – Henry Nemo, American musician, songwriter, and actor (died 1999).
 * 13 – Garland Wilson, American pianist (died 1954).
 * 27 – Leon Washington, American tenor saxophonist (died 1973).


 * July
 * 16 – Teddy Buckner, American trumpeter (died 1994).
 * 22 – Cassino Simpson, American pianist (died 1952).


 * August
 * 8 – Rupert Cole, Trinidadian alto saxophonist and clarinetist (died unknown date).
 * 10 – Claude Thornhill, American pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader (died 1965).
 * 14 – Stuff Smith, American violinist (died 1967).
 * 17 – Larry Clinton, American bandleader and songwriter (died 1985).
 * 27 – Lester Young, American tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and bandleader (died 1959).


 * September
 * 26 – Gus Deloof, Belgian trumpeter, composer, and arranger (died 1974).


 * October
 * 4 – Buddy Featherstonhaugh, English saxophonist (died 1976).
 * 13
 * Art Tatum, American pianist (died 1956).
 * Scoville Browne, American reedist (died 1994).
 * 17 – Cozy Cole, American drummer (died 1981).


 * December
 * 12 – Eddie Barefield, American saxophonist, clarinetist, and arranger (died 1991).
 * 17 – Roy McCloud, American cornetist (died 1986).
 * 31 – Jonah Jones, American trumpeter sometimes referred to as "King Louis II" (died 2000).


 * Unknown date
 * Roger Chaput, French guitarist and visual artist, Quintette du Hot Club de France (died 1995).
 * Rudy Williams, American jazz alto saxophonist (died 1954).
 * Tiny Davis, American trumpeter and vocalist (died 1994).