1981 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1981.

April

 * 10 – The 8th Vossajazz started in Voss, 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.