1991 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1991.

March

 * 22 – The 18th Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway (March 22 – 24).

May

 * 17 – The 20th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (May 17 – 20).
 * 22 – The 19th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 22 – June 2).

July

 * 2 – 25th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Switzerland (July 2 – 21).
 * 11 – The 16th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague (July 11 – 14).

August

 * 16 – The 8th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales (April 16 – 18).

September

 * 20 – The 34th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 20 – 22).

Unknown date

 * Carla Bley divorced Michael Mantler.
 * Carla Bley was married to Steve Swallow.

Album releases

 * Steve Lacy: Remains
 * Wayne Horvitz: Bring Your Camera
 * John Butcher: Thirteen Friendly Numbers
 * Guy Klucevsek: Flying Vegetables of the Apocalypse
 * Michael Formanek: Extended Animation
 * Randy Weston: Spirits Of Our Ancestors
 * Bill Frisell: Where in the World?
 * Don Byron: Tuskegee Experiments
 * Marilyn Crispell: Images
 * Chick Corea Elektric Band: Beyond the Mask
 * Bobby Previte: Weather Clear, Track Fast
 * Music Revelation Ensemble: After Dark
 * Sonny Sharrock: Ask the Ages
 * Steve Coleman: Black Science
 * Joe Lovano: From the Soul
 * David Sanborn: Another Hand
 * Don Pullen: Kele Mou Bana
 * Terje Rypdal: Q.E.D.
 * Jackie McLean: Rites of Passage
 * Joanne Brackeen: Is It Really True
 * John Scofield: Meant to Be
 * John Patitucci: Heart of the Bass
 * Julius Hemphill: Fat Man and the Hard Blues
 * London Jazz Composers' Orchestra: Theoria
 * Wynton Marsalis: Blue Interlude
 * Marty Ehrlich: Side by Side
 * Tim Berne: Can't Put My Finger On It
 * Joanne Brackeen: Where Legends Dwell
 * Joey Baron: Tongue in Groove
 * Max Roach: To the Max
 * Robert Dick: Venturi Shadows
 * Freddie Hubbard: Temptation
 * Fred Hersh: Forward Motion
 * Steve Swallow: Swallow
 * Marcus Roberts: As Serenity Approaches
 * Steve Turre: Right There
 * Trilok Gurtu: Living Magic
 * Branford Marsalis: The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born
 * Christy Doran: What a Band
 * Yellowjackets: Politics
 * David S. Ware: Great Bliss, Vol. 1
 * David S. Ware: Great Bliss, Vol. 2
 * Eliane Elias: A Long Story

Deaths



 * January
 * 4
 * Eddie Barefield, American saxophonist, clarinetist, and arranger (born 19091).
 * Leo Wright, American alto saxophonist, flautist, and clarinetist (born 1933).
 * 10 – Bob Wallis, British trumpeter (born 1934).
 * 14 – Miles Copeland Jr., American musician (born 1916).


 * February
 * 26 – Slim Gaillard, American singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, vibraphonist, and tenor saxophonist (born 1916).


 * March
 * 3 – Sal Nistico, American tenor saxophonist (born 1938).
 * 15 – Bud Freeman, American tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, and composer (born 1906).
 * 20 – Billy Butler, American guitarist (born 1924).
 * 25 – Rusty Bryant, American tenor and alto saxophonist (born 1929).
 * 31 – John Carter, American clarinetist, saxophonist, and flautist (born 1929).


 * April
 * 1
 * Bjarne Nerem, Norwegian tenor saxophonist, alto saxophonist, and clarinetist (born 1923).
 * Jon Eardley, American trumpeter (born 1928).
 * 16 – Ove Lind, Swedish clarinetist (born 1926).
 * 19 – Barry Rogers, American trombonist (born 1935).


 * May
 * 3 – Harry Gibson, American pianist, singer, and songwriter (born 1915).
 * 8 – Kenny Trimble, American trombonist (born 1919).


 * June
 * 6 – Stan Getz, American saxophonist (born 1927).
 * 23 – Masayuki Takayanagi, Japanese guitarist (born 1932).
 * 29 – Richard Holmes, American organist (born 1931).


 * July
 * 24 – Tullio Mobiglia, Italian saxophonist and bandleader (born 1911).
 * 31 – Charlie Beal, American pianist (born 1908).


 * August
 * 4 – Jeri Southern, American pianist and singer (born 1926).
 * 10 – Buster Smith, American alto saxophonist (born 1904).


 * September
 * 4 – Charlie Barnet, American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader (born 1913).
 * 28 – Miles Davis American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer (born 1926).


 * October
 * 1 – Stu Williamson, American trumpeter and valve trombonist (born 1933).


 * November
 * 9 – Lance Hayward, Bermudan-American pianist (born 1916).


 * December
 * 8 – Buck Clayton, American trumpeter (born 1911).
 * 12 – Ronnie Ross, British baritone saxophonist (born 1933).
 * 18 – King Kolax, American trumpeter and bandleader (born 1912).
 * 22 – Beaver Harris, American drummer (born 1936).
 * 31 – Pat Patrick, American baritone saxophonist, alto saxophonist, and guitar bassist (born 1929).


 * Unknown date
 * Tío Tom, Afro-Cuban musician (born 1919).

Births

 * February
 * 4 – Kjetil Mulelid, Norwegian pianist and composer.


 * March
 * 27 – Braxton Cook, American alto saxophonist and composer.


 * April
 * 10 – Andreas Skår Winther, Norwegian drummer.
 * 23 – Jean Rondeau, French harpsichordist.
 * 26 – Will Heard, English singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.


 * May
 * 10 – Jimmy Macbride, American drummer and composer.


 * June
 * 11 – Aaron M. Johnson, American jazz saxophonist and bandleader.


 * July
 * 26 – Nathan Hartono, Indonesian multi-instrumentalist and vocalist.


 * September
 * 21 – Ai Kuwabara, Japanese pianist.
 * 25 – Per Kamfjord, Norwegian drummer.


 * October
 * 20 – Henrik Lødøen, Norwegian drummer.


 * Unknown date
 * Bendik Baksaas, Norwegian electronica artist.
 * Magnus Bakken, Norwegian saxophonist.
 * Olli Soikkeli, Finnish guitarist.