1985 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1985.

March

 * 29 – The 12th Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway (March 29 – 31).

May

 * 24 – 14th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (May 24 – 27).
 * 22 – 13th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 22 – June 5).

June

 * 28 – The 6th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (June 28 – July 7).

July

 * 4 – The 19th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland (July 4 – 20).
 * 12 – The 10th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands (July 12 – 14).

August

 * 16 – The 2nd Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales (April 16 – 18).

September

 * 20 – The 28th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 20 – 22).

Album releases

 * Ornette Coleman and Prime Time: Opening the Caravan of Dreams
 * Abdullah Ibrahim: Water From an Ancient Well
 * Butch Morris: Current Trends In Racism
 * Bobby Previte: Bump The Renaissance
 * George Russell: The African Game
 * Rova Saxophone Quartet: The Crowd
 * Lyle Mays: Lyle Mays
 * David Liebman: The Loneliness Of A Long-Distance Runner
 * James Newton: Water Mystery
 * Hank Robertson: Transparency
 * David Torn: Best Laid Plans
 * Borbetomagus: Borbeto Jam
 * Mark Nauseef: Wun Wun
 * Kip Hanrahan: Vertical Currency
 * Patrick O'Hearn: Ancient Dreams
 * Don Pullen: The Sixth Sense
 * John Carter: Castles of Ghana
 * Gerry Hemingway: Outerbridge Crossing
 * Leni Stern: Clairvoyant
 * Marc Johnson: Bass Desires
 * Terje Rypdal: Chaser
 * Tom Harrell: Moon Alley
 * Wynton Marsalis: Black Codes (From the Underground)
 * Wynton Marsalis: J Mood
 * Paul Winter: Canyon
 * Tony Williams: Civilization
 * Michael Mantler: Alien
 * Herbie Hancock: Village Life
 * The Manhattan Transfer: Vocalese
 * Michael Franks: Skin Dive
 * Ben Sidran: On the Cool Side
 * John Hicks Trio: Inc. 1
 * Hugh Masekela: Waiting for the Rain

Deaths

 * January
 * 7 – Johnny Guarnieri, American pianist (born 1917).
 * 10 – Cie Frazier, American drummer (born 1904).
 * 11 – Kenny Clare, English drummer (born 1929).
 * 18 – Georgie Stoll, American musical director, conductor, composer, and violinist (born 1905).
 * 26 – Kenny Clarke, American drummer and bandleader (born 1914).


 * February
 * 22 – Frank Traynor, Australian trombonist and entrepreneur (born 1927).
 * 27 – Ray Ellington, English singer, drummer, and bandleader (born 1916).


 * March
 * 13 – Annette Hanshaw, American singer (born 1901).
 * 23 – Zoot Sims, American saxophonist (born 1925).
 * 30 – Shizuko Kasagi, Japanese singer (born 1914).


 * April
 * 21 – Irving Mills, American music publisher, musician, lyricist, and jazz artist promoter (born 1894).


 * May
 * 2 – Larry Clinton, American trumpeter, bandleader, and songwriter (born 1909).
 * 24 – Joe Darensbourg, American clarinetist and saxophonist (born 1906).
 * 27 – Skeeter Best, American guitarist (born 1914).


 * June
 * 15 – David "Buck" Wheat, American bassist, songwriter and recording artist (born 1922).


 * July
 * 1
 * Dick Vance, American trumpeter (born 1915).
 * Lonnie Hillyer, American trumpeter (born 1940).
 * 4 – Chris Woods, American alto saxophonist (born 1925).
 * 11 – George Duvivier, American upright bassist (born 1920).


 * August
 * 1 – Sam Wooding, American pianist, arranger, and bandleader (born 1895).
 * 11 – Nick Ceroli, American drummer (born 1939).
 * 19 – Cedric Wallace, American upright bassist (born 1909).
 * 30 – Philly Joe Jones, American drummer (born 1923).


 * September
 * 3 – Jo Jones, American drummer (born 1911).
 * 6
 * Johnny Desmond, American singer (born 1919).
 * Little Brother Montgomery, American pianist and singer (born 1906).
 * 15 – Cootie Williams, American trumpeter (born 1911).
 * 18 – Ed Lewis, American trumpeter (born 1909).
 * 19 – Charlie Holmes, American alto jazz saxophonist of the swing era (born 1910).
 * George Clarke, American tenor saxophonist (born 1911).


 * October
 * 12 – Blind John Davis, African American, blues, jazz and boogie-woogie pianist and singer (born 1913).
 * Nelson Boyd, American bassist (born 1928).


 * November
 * 4 – Richard Williams, American trumpeter (born 1931).
 * 12 – Dicky Wells, American trombonist (born 1907).
 * 13 – Max Miller, American pianist and vibraphonist (born 1911).
 * 24 – Big Joe Turner, American blues shouter (born 1911).


 * December
 * 9
 * Calvin Jackson, American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader (born 1919).
 * Charlie Munro, American reedist and flautist (born 1917).
 * 28 – Benny Morton, American trombonist most associated with the swing genre (born 1907).


 * Unknown date
 * Leon Prima, American trumpeter (born 1907).

Births



 * January
 * 2
 * André Roligheten, Norwegian saxophonist and composer.
 * Marius Neset, Norwegian saxophonist, composer, and bandleader.
 * 11 – Newton Faulkner, English singer-songwriter and musician.
 * 29 – Jon Rune Strøm, Norwegian upright bassist, and bass guitarist.


 * February
 * 2 – Melody Gardot, American singer, writer and musician.
 * 8 – Dario Chiazzolino, Italian guitarist and composer.
 * 19 – Kristoffer Lo, Norwegian tubist, flugabonist, guitarist, and composer.


 * March
 * 5 – Eyolf Dale, Norwegian pianist and composer.


 * May
 * 3 – Louis Cato, American drummer, bassist, guitarist, singer, and composer.


 * 14 – Tore Sandbakken, Norwegian drummer and composer.


 * June
 * 12 – Olivia Trummer, German pianist, vocalist, and composer.
 * 20 – Ellen Brekken, Norwegian upright bassist, guitar bassist, and tubist.


 * July
 * 18 – Theo Croker, American trumpeter, singer, and bandleader from Leesburg, Florida.
 * 22 – Camila Meza, Chilean singer-songwriter and guitarist.
 * 25 – Tom Harrison, British alto saxophonist and flautist.
 * 31 – Aaron Weinstein, American violinist and mandolinist.


 * August
 * 14 – David Six, Austrian pianist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist.
 * 22 – Kim Johannesen, Norwegian guitarist.
 * 30 – Rachael Price, American vocalist from Hendersonville, Tennessee.


 * September
 * 10 – Live Foyn Friis, Norwegian singer and composer.
 * 22 – Aaron Diehl, American pianist.


 * October
 * 7 – Alfredo Rodríguez, Cuban pianist and composer.
 * 15 – Øystein Skar, Norwegian pianist and composer.
 * 29 – Ximena Sariñana, Mexican singer-songwriter and actress


 * December
 * 19 – Ine Hoem, Norwegian singer.
 * 29 – Alexa Ray Joel, American singer, songwriter and pianist.


 * Unknown date
 * Paul Carnegie-Jones, New Zealand pianist.
 * Per Arne Ferner, Norwegian guitarist.