1986 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1986.

March

 * 21 – The 13th Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway (March 21 – 23).

May

 * 16 – 15th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (May 16 – 19).
 * 21 – 14th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 21 – June 4).

June

 * 27 – The 7th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (June 27 – July 6).

July

 * 3 – The 20th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland (July 43 – 19).
 * 11 – The 11th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands (July 11 – 13).

August

 * 15 – The 3rd Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales (April 15 – 17).

September

 * 19 – The 29th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 19 – 21).

Album releases

 * 16–17: 16–17
 * Tim Berne: Fulton Street Maul
 * Ran Blake: Short Life of Barbara Monk
 * Larry Carlton: Alone / But Never Alone
 * Larry Carlton: Discovery
 * John Carter: Dance of Love Ghosts
 * Steve Coleman: On the Edge of Tomorrow
 * Christy Doran: Red Twist and Tuned Arrow
 * Eliane Elias: Illusions
 * ICP Orchestra: Bospaadje Konijnehol I
 * Kenny G: Duotones
 * Steve Lacy: Outings
 * Last Exit: Last Exit
 * Last Exit: Koln
 * Lyle Mays: Lyle Mays
 * Pat Metheny & Ornette Coleman: Song X
 * James Newton: Romance and Revolution
 * Evan Parker: Atlanta
 * Evan Parker: The Snake Decides
 * Courtney Pine: Journey to the Urge Within
 * Ned Rothenberg: Trespass
 * Arturo Sandoval: Tumbaito
 * Sonny Sharrock: Guitar
 * Michael Shrieve: In Suspect Terrain
 * Jim Staley: Mumbo Jumbo
 * Henry Threadgill: You Know the Number
 * Cecil Taylor: For Olim
 * Bobby Watson: Love Remains
 * Kazumi Watanabe: Spice Of Life
 * Reggie Workman: Synthesis
 * John Zorn: Cobra
 * Bill Bruford: Master Strokes 1978-1985

Deaths

 * January
 * 26 – Ken Moule, English pianist, composer, and arranger (born 1925).
 * 29 – Everett Barksdale, American guitarist (born 1910).


 * February
 * 26 – Karel Vlach, Czech musician, orchestra conductor, and arranger (born 1911).


 * March
 * 21 – Raymond Burke, American clarinetist (born 1904).


 * April
 * 26 – Cliff Leeman, American drummer (born 1913).


 * May
 * 19 – Jimmy Lyons, American alto saxophonist (born 1931).
 * 30 – Hank Mobley, American tenor saxophonist (born 1930).


 * June
 * 13 – Benny Goodman, American clarinetist and bandleader (born 1909).
 * 29 – Cliff Townshend, English saxophonist and clarinetist (born 1916).


 * July
 * 3 – Curley Russell, American upright bassist (born 1917).
 * 31 – Teddy Wilson, American pianist (born 1912).


 * August
 * 21 – Thad Jones, American trumpeter (born 1923).


 * September
 * 2 – Billy Taylor, American upright bassist (born 1906).
 * 10 – Pepper Adams, American baritone saxophonist and composer (born 1930).


 * October
 * 22 – Thorgeir Stubø, Norwegian guitarist, band leader, and composer (born 1943).
 * 27 – Alan Branscombe, English pianist, vibraphonist, and alto saxophonist (born 1936).


 * November
 * 3 – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, American tenor saxophonist (born 1922).
 * 23 – Svein Øvergaard, Norwegian saxophonist and percussionist (born 1912).


 * December
 * 2 – Paul Bascomb, American tenor saxophonist (born 1912).


 * Unknown date
 * Arthur Rosebery, English pianist and singer (born 1904).

Births

 * January
 * 2 – Trombone Shorty, American trombonist, vocalist and composer.
 * 4 – Theo Jackson, British songwriter, pianist and vocalist.
 * 12 – Philip Schjetlein, Norwegian guitarist.
 * 27 – Takashi Matsunaga, Japanese pianist and composer.


 * March
 * 10 – Justin Kauflin, American pianist, composer, and record producer.
 * 11 – Ayumi Tanaka, Japanese pianist.
 * 19 – Susanne Sundfør, Norwegian singer and songwriter.


 * April
 * 20 – Roxy Coss, American saxophonist and composer.
 * 23 – Laura Mvula, British singer, songwriter, and composer.


 * May
 * 18 – Adam Bałdych, Polish violinist, composer, music producer.
 * 26 – Kit Downes, British pianist and composer.


 * June
 * 24 – Ivan Blomqvist, Swedish pianist, keyboarder, and composer.


 * July
 * 11 – Jakop Janssønn Hauan, Norwegian drummer.
 * 21 – Rebecca Ferguson, British singer and songwriter.


 * October
 * 10
 * Marcus Gilmore, American drummer.
 * Ellen Andrea Wang, Norwegian upright bassist and singer.


 * November
 * 8 – Nikola Rachelle, British singer and songwriter.
 * 11 – Jon Batiste, American singer, multi-instrumentalist, and bandleader.
 * 12 – Jonas Kilmork Vemøy, Norwegian trumpeter, and composer.
 * 13 – Miss Tati, Norwegian DJ, singer, and songwriter.


 * December
 * 2 – Tal Wilkenfeld, Australian bass guitarist.
 * 27 – Pablo Held, German pianist and composer.
 * 29 – Sullivan Fortner, American pianist and composer.


 * Unknown date
 * Adrián Carrio, Spanish pianist.
 * Emilie Stoesen Christensen, Norwegian singer and actor.
 * Jon Audun Baar, Norwegian drummer.
 * Julia Kadel, German pianist, composer, and band leader.
 * Lars Ove Fossheim, Norwegian jazz guitarist.
 * Romano Ricciardi, Italian-Swiss saxophonist.
 * Sasha Masakowski, American singer.