1983 in jazz

This page is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1983.

March

 * 25 – The 10th Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway (March 25 – 27).

May

 * 18 – 11th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 18 – June 1).
 * 20 – 12th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (May 20 – 23).

June

 * 1 – The 4th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (July 1 – 10).

July

 * 8
 * The 8th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands (July 8 – 10).
 * The 17th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland (July 8 – 24).

September

 * 16 – The 26th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 16 – 18).

Unknown date

 * Eliane Elias married Randy Brecker, brother of Michael Brecker.

Album releases

 * Borbetomagus: Barbed Wire Maggots
 * Anthony Davis: Hemispheres
 * Terje Rypdal: Eos
 * Don Pullen: Evidence of Things Unseen
 * James Newton: Luella
 * Marilyn Crispell: Rhythms Hung in Undrawn Sky
 * Ganelin Trio: Semplice
 * Microscopic Septet: Take the Z Train
 * Muhal Richard Abrams: Rejoicing with the Light
 * Tim Berne: Mutant Variations
 * Terence Blanchard & Donald Harrison: New York Second Line
 * Steps Ahead: Steps Ahead
 * Dollar Brand: Ekaya
 * Jamaaladeen Tacuma: Show Stopper
 * Pat Metheny: Rejoicing
 * Paul Motian: The Story of Maryam
 * Joachim Kuhn: I'm Not Dreaming
 * Kenny Wheeler: Double, Double You
 * Lakshminarayana Subramaniam: Spanish Wave
 * Roger Neumann: Introducing Rather Large Band
 * Dave Holland: Jumpin' In
 * Henry Threadgill: Just the Facts and Pass the Bucket
 * George Russell: So What
 * Derek Bailey: Epiphany
 * Bobby Shew: Breakfast Wine
 * Bob Wasserman: Solo
 * Joe McPhee: Visitation
 * Bobby Watson: Jewel
 * Branford Marsalis: Scenes In The City
 * Wynton Marsalis: Think of One
 * Ronald Shannon Jackson: Barbeque Dog
 * Shadowfax: Shadowdance
 * Michael Franks: Passionfruit
 * John Pizzarelli: I'm Hip (Please Don't Tell My Father)

Deaths

 * January
 * 13
 * Barry Galbraith, American guitarist (born 1919).
 * John Ouwerx, Belgian pianist and composer (born 1903).
 * 28 – Sweet Emma Barrett, American pianist and singer (born 1897).


 * February
 * 2 – Moses Allen, American upright bassist (born 1907).
 * 12 – Eubie Blake, American composer, lyricist, and pianist (born 1887).


 * March
 * 14 – Gigi Gryce, American saxophonist, flautist, clarinetist, and composer (born 1925).
 * 16 – Ernie Royal, American trumpeter (born 1921).


 * April
 * 1 – Ken Kersey, Canadian pianist (born 1916).
 * 7 – Cag Cagnolatti, American trumpeter (born 1911).
 * 13 – Dolo Coker, American pianist and composer (born 1927).
 * 22 – Earl Hines, American pianist and bandleader (born 1903).
 * 27 – Kippie Moeketsi, South-African alto saxophonist (born 1925).


 * May
 * 6 – Kai Winding, Danish-American trombonist and composer (born 1922).
 * 25 – Paul Quinichette, American tenor saxophonist (born 1916).


 * June
 * 19 – Al Lucas, Canadian upright bassist (born 1912).


 * July
 * 1 – Sandy Mosse, American tenor saxophonist (born 1929).
 * 5 – Harry James, American trumpeter and band leader (born 1916).
 * 8 – Lammar Wright Jr., American trumpeter (born 1924).
 * 12 – Chris Wood, English saxophonist and flautist, Traffic (born 1944).
 * 15 – Sadik Hakim, American pianist and composer (born 1919).
 * 18 – Bob Cornford, British jazz pianist and composer (born 1940).


 * August
 * 9 – Don Ewell, American stride pianist (born 1916).


 * September
 * 1 – Arthur Herzog Jr., American songwriter and composer (born 1900).
 * 15
 * Willie Bobo, Puerto Rican-American percussionist (born 1934).
 * Johnny Hartman, African-American singer (born 1923).
 * 18 – Roy Milton, American singer, drummer, and bandleader (born 1907).


 * October
 * Wilbert Baranco, American pianist and bandleader (born 1909).


 * November
 * 8 – James Booker, American keyboarder (born 1939).
 * 12 – Preston Jackson, American trombonist (born 1902).
 * 22 – Kamil Běhounek, Bohemian-Czech accordionist (born 1916).
 * 25 – Waymon Reed, American trumpeter (born 1940).


 * December
 * 13 – Marshall Brown, American trombonist and multi-instrumentalist (born 1920).
 * 16 – Harry Miller, South African upright bassist (born 1941).


 * Unknown date
 * Pat Smythe, Scottish pianist (born 1923).

Births

 * January
 * 20 – Eivind Lønning, Norwegian trumpeter.


 * February
 * 3 – Gilad Hekselman, Israeli guitarist and composer.
 * 22 – Lars Winther, Danish pianist, composer, producer, and arranger.


 * March
 * 10 – Lőrinc Barabás, Hungarian trumpeter and composer.
 * 31 – Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, American trumpeter and composer.


 * April
 * 20 – Ryan Blotnick, American guitarist.


 * May
 * 8 – Nikoletta Szőke, Hungarian singer.
 * 26 – Rune Nergaard, Norwegian upright bassist, Bushman's Revenge.


 * June
 * 17 – Jaimie Branch, American trumpeter and electronica artist (died 2022)
 * 24 – Gard Nilssen, Norwegian drummer, Puma.
 * 30 – Espen Berg, Norwegian pianist, arranger, and composer, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra.


 * July
 * 5 – Sofia Jernberg, Ethiopian-Swedish experimental singer and composer.
 * 8 – Jamie Brooks, English pianist, keyboarder, composer, and arranger.
 * 13 – Harold López-Nussa, Cuban pianist.
 * 22 – Andreas Ulvo, Norwegian pianist, organist, keyboarder, and composer, Eple Trio.


 * August
 * 17 – Luques Curtis, American bassist.


 * September
 * 14 – Amy Winehouse, English singer and songwriter (died 2011).
 * 19 – Petter Eldh, Swedish upright bassist and composer.
 * 25 – Hayden Powell, English trumpeter and composer.
 * 26 – Magnus Hjorth, Swedish pianist and composer.


 * October
 * 7 – Aaron Parks, American pianist and composer.
 * 14 – Andreas Stensland Løwe, Norwegian pianist, Splashgirl.
 * 19 – Makaya McCraven, American drummer.


 * November
 * 10
 * Bez Idakula, Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and composer.
 * David Virelles, Cuban pianist and composer.
 * Svein Magnus Furu, Norwegian saxophonist composer, and music journalist.
 * 23 – Thomas Pridgen, American drummer, The Mars Volta.


 * Unknown date
 * Emanuele Maniscalco, Italian pianist, drummer, and composer.
 * Guro Skumsnes Moe, Norwegian upright bassist and singer.
 * Lauren Kinsella, Irish singer and composer.
 * Tom Hasslan, Norwegian guitarist.