1994 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of jazz in the year 1994.

March

 * 25 – The 21st Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway (March 25 – 27).

May

 * 20 – The 23rd Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (June 20 – 23).
 * 26 – The 22nd Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 26 – June 5).

July

 * 1
 * The 17th Copenhagen Jazz Festival started in Copenhagen, Denmark (July 1–10).
 * The 4th Jazz Fest Wien started in Wien, Austria (July 1–15).
 * The 15th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (July 1–16).
 * The 28th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland (July 1–16).
 * 8 – The 19th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague (July 8–10).
 * 16 – The 29th Pori Jazz started in Pori, Finland (July 16–24).
 * 18 – The 35th Moldejazz started in Molde, Norway (July 18–23).

August

 * 12 – The 11th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales (August 12–14).

September

 * 16 – The 37th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 16–18).

Album releases

 * Myra Melford: Even the Sounds Shine
 * Toshiko Akiyoshi: Desert Lady
 * Matthew Shipp: Critical Mass
 * Pat Metheny: Zero Tolerance for Silence
 * Henry Threadgill: Carry the Day
 * Ken Vandermark: Solid Action
 * Steve Coleman: Def Trance Beat
 * Chick Corea: Expressions
 * Misha Mengelberg: Mix
 * Bobby Previte: Slay the Suitors
 * Joshua Redman: MoodSwing
 * Franklin Kiermyer: Solomon's Daughter
 * Mark Helias: Loopin' the Cool
 * Jessica Williams: Momentum
 * Fred Anderson: Vintage Duets
 * David S. Ware: Earthquation
 * Eliane Elias: Solos and Duets
 * Hugh Masekela: Hope
 * Ray Anderson, Han Bennink and Christy Doran: Azurety
 * John Surman Quartet: Stranger Than Fiction
 * Wallace Roney: Mistérios
 * Peter Erskine: Time Being
 * Louis Sclavis and Dominique Pifarély: Acoustic Quartet
 * Edward Vesala with Sound & Fury: Nordic Gallery
 * Red Sun and SamulNori: Then Comes The White Tiger
 * Krakatau: Matinale
 * John Abercrombie Trio: Speak of the Devil
 * Trevor Watts and the Moire Music Ensemble: A Wider Embrace
 * Jan Garbarek with Anouar Brahem and Ustad Shaukat Hussain: Madar
 * Don Cherry with Bobo Stenson and Lennart Åberg: Dona Nostra
 * Vincent Herring: The Days of Wine and Roses
 * Michel Camilo: One More Once
 * Marilyn Crispell: Stellar Pulsations / Three Composers
 * Karl Berger: Conversations
 * Charlie Haden's Quartet West: Always Say Goodbye
 * European Music Orchestra: Guest

Deaths

 * January
 * 1 – James Clay, American tenor saxophonist and flutist (born 1935).
 * 30 – Tiny Davis, American trumpeter and vocalist (born 1909).


 * February
 * 8 – Raymond Scott, American composer, band leader, pianist, and electronic instrument inventor (born 1908).


 * March
 * 9 – Maurice Purtill or Moe Purtill, American drummer, Glenn Miller Orchestra (born 1916).
 * 13 – Danny Barker, American guitarist, banjoist, vocalist, and author (born 1909).
 * 19 – Rafig Babayev, Azerbaijani musician and composer (born 1937).
 * 24 – Tommy Benford, American drummer (born 1905).


 * April
 * 2 – Rowland Greenberg, Norwegian trumpeter (born 1920).
 * 6 – Dick Cary, American trumpeter, composer, and arranger (born 1916).
 * 16 – Ralph Ellison, American novelist and literary critic (born 1913).
 * 22 – Jack Bentley, English trombonist, journalist, and scriptwriter (born 1913).


 * May
 * 23 – Joe Pass, American guitarist of Sicilian descent (born 1929).
 * 25 – Eric Gale, American guitarist (born 1938).
 * 26
 * Gil Fuller, American composer and arranger (born 1920).
 * Sonny Sharrock, American guitarist (born 1940).
 * 27 – Red Rodney, American trumpeter (born 1927).
 * 29 – Oliver Jackson, American drummer (born 1933).
 * 30 – Jean Omer, Belgian reedist and bandleader (born 1912).


 * June
 * 7 – Willie Humphrey, American clarinetist (born 1900).
 * 14
 * Henry Mancini, American composer, conductor, and arranger (born 1924).
 * Lionel Grigson, British pianist, cornettist, trumpeter, and composer (born 1942).
 * 21 – Dennis Berry, English saxophonist, composer, arranger, and producer (born 1921).


 * July
 * 11 – Lex Humphries, American drummer (born 1936).


 * August
 * 6 – Jacques Pelzer, Belgian alto saxophonist and flautist (born 1924).
 * 12 – Gene Cherico, American upright bassist (born 1935).
 * 18 – Charles Redland, Swedish saxophonist, bandleader, and composer (born 1911).


 * September
 * 5 – Billy Usselton, American jazz reed player (born 1926).
 * 6 – Max Kaminsky, American trumpeter and bandleader (born 1908).
 * 13 – John Stevens, English drummer, Spontaneous Music Ensemble (born 1940).
 * 16 – Bernie Leighton, American pianist (born 1921).
 * 20 – Jimmy Hamilton, American clarinetist, tenor saxophonist, and composer (born 1917).
 * 22
 * Bob Lively, American saxophonist (born 1923).
 * Leonard Feather, British pianist, composer, and producer (born 1914).
 * 29 – David van Kriedt, American composer, saxophonist, and music teacher (born 1922).


 * October
 * 3 – Scoville Browne, American reedist (born 1909).
 * 4 – Danny Gatton, American guitarist (born 1945).
 * 5 – Nini Rosso, Italian jazz trumpeter and composer (born 1926).
 * 8 – John Neely, American tenor saxophonist and arranger (born 1930).
 * 21
 * Lanny Steele, American pianist and composer (born 1933).
 * Thore Ehrling, Swedish trumpeter, composer, and bandleader (born 1912).


 * November
 * 4 – Jack Sharpe, English saxophonist and bandleader (born 1930).
 * 7 – Shorty Rogers, American trumpeter and flugelhornist (born 1924).
 * 10 – Carmen McRae, American singer, composer, pianist, and actress (born 1922).
 * 18 – Cab Calloway, American singer and bandleader (born 1907).
 * 28 – Al Levitt, American drummer (born 1932).
 * 30 – Connie Kay, American drummer (born 1927).


 * December
 * 8 – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Brazilian composer, pianist, songwriter, arranger, and singer (born 1927).
 * 14 – Mary Ann McCall, American singer (born 1919).
 * 19
 * Bill Douglass, American drummer (born 1923).
 * Noel Pointer, American jazz violinist and record producer (born 1954).

Births

 * February
 * 8 – Nikki Yanofsky, Canadian singer.


 * March
 * 23 – Gentle Bones, Singaporean singer and composer.


 * April
 * 9 – Jo David Meyer Lysne, Norwegian guitarist and composer.


 * May


 * Unknown date
 * Amalie Holt Kleive, Norwegian singer and composer.
 * Billie Black, British singer.
 * Veronica Swift, American singer.