1996 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1996.

March

 * 29 – The 23rd Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway (March 29 – 31).

May

 * 22 – The 24th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 22 – June 2).
 * 24 – The 25th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (May 24 – 27).

June

 * 27 – The 17th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Canada (June 27 – July 7).
 * 28 – The 6th Jazz Fest Wien started in Wien, Austria (June 28 – July 13).

July

 * 5 – The 30th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Switzerland (July 5 – 20).
 * 12
 * The 21st North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands (July 12 – 14).
 * The 31st Pori Jazz Festival started in Finland (July 12 – 21).
 * 15 – The 37th Moldejazz started in Molde, Norway (July 15 – 20).
 * 18 – The 49th Nice Jazz Festival started in France (July 18 – 20).
 * 21 – The 31st San Sebastian Jazz Festival started in San Sebastian, Spain (July 22 – 27).

August

 * 9 – The 13th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales (August 9 – 11).

September

 * 19 – The 39th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 19 – 21).

Album releases

 * Matthew Shipp: By the Law of Music
 * Guillermo Gregorio: Approximately
 * Ivo Perelman: Seeds, Visions and Counterpoint
 * Michael Formanek: Nature of the Beast
 * David S. Ware: Wisdom of Uncertainty
 * Maria Schneider: Coming About
 * Zeena Parkins: Mouth=Maul=Betrayer
 * Kenny Wheeler: Siren's Song
 * Gerry Hemingway: Perfect World
 * Ivo Perelman: Sound Hierarchy
 * Bob Neill: Triptycal
 * Branford Marsalis: The Dark Keys
 * Henry Threadgill: Where's Your Cup?
 * Evan Parker: Toward the Margins
 * Pat Metheny Group: Quartet
 * John Scofield: Quiet
 * Fred Anderson: Birdhouse
 * David S. Ware: Oblations and Blessings
 * David S. Ware: DAO
 * David S. Ware: Godspelized
 * William Parker: Compassion Seizes Bed-Stuy
 * Eliane Elias: The Three Americas
 * Charlie Haden: Now Is the Hour
 * Charlie Haden: Now Is the Hour

Deaths

 * January
 * 2 – Viatcheslav Nazarov, American trombonist, pianist and vocalist (born 1952).
 * 5 – Gus Bivona, American reedist (born 1915).
 * 11 – Ike Isaacs, Burmese-English guitarist (born 1919).
 * 13 – Morty Corb, American upright bassist (born 1917).
 * 20 – Gerry Mulligan, American saxophonist, and clarinetist (born 1927).
 * 28 – Pauline Braddy, African-American drummer, International Sweethearts of Rhythm (born 1922).
 * 29 – Ray Leatherwood, American upright bassist (born 1914).


 * February
 * 7 – Tiny Winters, English bassist and vocalist (born 1909).
 * 8 – Mercer Ellington, American trumpeter, composer, and arranger (born 1919).
 * 12 – Alan Dawson, American drummer (born 1929).


 * March
 * 5 – Herb Hall, American clarinetist and saxophonist (born 1907).
 * 27 – Howard Wyeth, American drummer and pianist


 * May
 * 1 – Billy Byers, American trombonist and arranger (born 1927).
 * 25 – Barney Wilen, American saxophonist and composer (born 1937).
 * 27 – Pud Brown, American reedist (born 1917).
 * 28 – Jimmy Rowles, American pianist, vocalist, and composer (born 1918).


 * June
 * 1 – Don Grolnick, American pianist and composer (born 1947).
 * 6 – Norma Teagarden, American pianist (born 1911).
 * 10 – Frankie Sakai, Japanese comedian, actor, and musician (born 1929).
 * 15 – Ella Fitzgerald, American vocalist (born 1917).
 * 16 – Gil Cuppini, Italian drummer and bandleader (born 1924).


 * July
 * 3 – Pim Jacobs, American trumpeter (born 1934).
 * 17 – Amancio D'Silva, Indian guitarist and composer (born 1936).


 * August
 * 6 – Bobby Enriquez, Filipino pianist (born 1943).
 * 24 – Carlos Vidal Bolado, American conga drum musician (born 1914).
 * 25 – Fred Adison, French vocalist, drummer, and bandleader (born 1908).
 * 31 – Milt Larkin, American trumpeter and bandleader (born 1910).


 * September
 * 20 – Paul Weston, American pianist, arranger, composer, and conductor (born 1912).


 * October
 * 11 – Johnny Costa, American pianist (born 1922).


 * November
 * 2 – Eva Cassidy, American vocalist and guitarist (born 1963).
 * 4 – Ray Linn, American trumpeter (born 1920).
 * 5 – Eddie Harris, American saxophonist (born 1934).
 * 7
 * Carmell Jones, American trumpet player (born 1936).
 * Kid Sheik, American trumpeter (born 1908).
 * 12 – Alan Littlejohn, American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and bandleader (born 1928).
 * 13 – Bill Doggett, American pianist and organist (born 1916).
 * 23 – Art Porter Jr., American saxophonist (born 1961).


 * December
 * 19 – Bobby Cole, American singer and pianist (born 1932).
 * 23 – Ronnie Scott, English tenor saxophonist and jazz club owner (born 1927).
 * 26 – Oscar Valdambrini, Italian jazz trumpeter (born 1924).

Births

 * February
 * 2 – Dionne Bromfield, English singer and songwriter.
 * 4 – Connie Han, American pianist and composer.


 * September
 * 8 – Alexander Bone, English saxophonist, pianist, producer, and composer.