1987 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1987.

April

 * 10 – The 14th Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway (April 10 – 12).

May

 * 20 – The 15th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 20 – June 3).

June

 * 5 – The 16th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (June 5 – 8).
 * 26 – The 8th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (June 26 – July 6).

July

 * 2 – The 21st Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland (July 2 – 19).
 * 10 – The 12th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands (July 10 – 12).

August

 * 21 – The 4th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales (April 21 – 23).

September

 * 15 – The 30th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 15 – 17).

Album releases

 * Henry Threadgill: Easily Slip Into Another World
 * Anthony Davis: Undine
 * Steve Lacy: Momentum
 * John Zorn: Spillane
 * Sun Ra Arkestra: Reflections in Blue
 * Sun Ra Arkestra: Hours After
 * Hank Roberts: Black Pastels
 * Marilyn Crispell: Labyrinths
 * Guy Klucevsek: Scenes From A Mirage
 * David Torn: Cloud About Mercury
 * Bobby Previte: Dull Bang, Gushing Sound, Human Shriek
 * Tim Berne: Sanctified Dreams
 * Borbetomagus: Fish That Sparkling Bubble
 * Marty Ehrlich: Pliant Plaint
 * Tim Berne: Fulton Street Maul
 * Benny Carter: Central City Sketches
 * Bobby Previte: Pushing The Envelope
 * Phil Woods: Bouquet
 * Danny Gottlieb: Aquamarine
 * Dave Holland: The Razor's Edge
 * Elements: Illumination
 * Henry Kaiser: Crazy Backwards Alphabet
 * Henry Kaiser: Devil In The Drain
 * Kenny Wheeler: Flutter By, Butterfly
 * Mark Helias: The Current Set
 * Michael Brecker: Michael Brecker
 * Montreux: Sign Language
 * Sonny Sharrock: Seize the Rainbow
 * Mulgrew Miller: Wingspan
 * Neil Swainson: 49th Parallel
 * Earthworks: Earthworks
 * Chick Corea Elektric Band: Light Years
 * Michael Franks: The Camera Never Lies
 * Eliane Elias: Cross Currents
 * Hugh Masekela: Tomorrow

Deaths

 * January
 * 14 – Alton Purnell, American pianist (born 1911).
 * 16 – Robert De Kers, Belgian trumpeter and bandleader (born 1906).


 * February
 * 2
 * Alfred Lion, German-American record executive, Blue Note Records (born 1908).
 * Spike Hughes, British upright bassist, composer, and music journalist (born 1908).


 * March
 * 1 – Freddie Green, American guitarist (born 1911).
 * 6 – Eddie Durham, American guitarist, trombonist, composer, and arranger (born 1906).


 * April
 * 2 – Buddy Rich, American drummer and bandleader (born 1917).
 * 7 – Maxine Sullivan, American singer (born 1911).


 * May
 * 4 — Wilbur Little, African-American bassist (born 1928).
 * 12 – Victor Feldman, English pianist and percussionist (born 1934).


 * July
 * 17 – Howard McGhee, American trumpeter (born 1918).


 * September
 * 21 – Jaco Pastorius, American bass guitarist (born 1951).


 * October
 * 15 – Pete Carpenter, American trombonist (born 1914).
 * 29 – Woody Herman, American clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader (born 1913).


 * December
 * 10 – Slam Stewart, American upright bassist (born 1914).
 * 18 – Warne Marsh, American tenor saxophonist (born 1927).

Births



 * January
 * 28 – Eldar Djangirov, American pianist.


 * February
 * 5 – Shai Maestro, Israeli pianist.
 * 6 – Kaja Draksler, Slovenian pianist and composer.
 * 15 – Trygve Waldemar Fiske, Norwegian upright bassist.
 * 27 – Cory Henry, American organist, pianist, and music producer.


 * March
 * 13 – Harald Lassen, Norwegian saxophonist and pianist.
 * 19 – Thana Alexa, Croatian-American vocalist and composer.


 * April
 * 11 – Joss Stone, English singer, songwriter and actress.
 * 15 – Marquis Hill, American trumpeter, composer and bandleader.
 * 26 – Kim-Erik Pedersen, Norwegian saxophonist.
 * 30 – August Rosenbaum, Danish pianist, composer, and arranger


 * May
 * 10 – Typh Barrow, Belgian singer, songwriter, composer and pianist.


 * July
 * 17 – Tigran Hamasyan, Armenian pianist and composer.
 * 26 – Evelina Sašenko, Lithuanian singer of Polish-Ukrainian descent.


 * September
 * 11 – Bjørn Marius Hegge, Norwegian upright bassist and composer, Hegge.
 * 18 – Luísa Sobral, Portuguese singer and songwriter.


 * October
 * 12 – Bjørnar Kaldefoss Tveite, Norwegian upright bassist (Morning Has Occurred).
 * 25 – André Drage, Norwegian drummer and composer.


 * November
 * 12 – Jamison Ross, American drummer and vocalist.
 * 13 – Hanna Paulsberg, Norwegian tenor saxophonist and composer.


 * December
 * 12 – Marte Eberson, Norwegian pianist, keyboardist and composer.
 * 25 – Julian Lage, American guitarist and composer.


 * Unknown date
 * Anja Lauvdal, Norwegian pianist, keyboardist, and composer.
 * Hanne Kalleberg, Norwegian singer and composer.
 * Mario Tomić, Croatian guitarist, arranger, composer, and producer.
 * Oscar Grönberg, Swedish-Norwegian pianist.
 * Thea Hjelmeland, Norwegian singer and songwriter.