1983 in jazz

Events

March

• 25 – The 10th Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway.

  May

• 18 – 11th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway.
• 20 – 12th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany.

  June

• 1 – The 4th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

  July

• 8
• * The 8th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands.
• * The 17th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland.

  September

• 16 – The 26th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California.

  Unknown date

• Eliane Elias married Randy Brecker, brother of Michael Brecker.

  Album releases

• Ornette Coleman and Prime Time: Opening the Caravan of Dreams
• Borbetomagus: Barbed Wire Maggot
• Anthony Davis: Hemispheres
• Terje Rypdal: Eos
• Don Pullen: Evidence of Things Unseen
• James Newton: Luella
• Marilyn Crispell: Rhythms Hung in Undrawn Sky
• Ganelin Trio: Semplice
• Microscopic Septet: Take the Z Train
• Muhal Richard Abrams: Rejoicing with Light
• Tim Berne: Mutant Variations
• Terence Blanchard & Donald Harrison: New York Second Line
• Steps Ahead: Steps Ahead
• Dollar Brand: Ekaya
• Jamaaladeen Tacuma: Show Stopper
• Pat Metheny: Rejoicing
• Paul Motian: The Story of Maryam
• Joachim Kuhn: I'm Not Dreaming
• Kenny Wheeler: Double, Double You
• Lakshminarayana Subramaniam: Spanish Wave
• Roger Neumann: Introducing Rather Large Band
• Dave Holland: Jumpin' In
• Henry Threadgill: Just the Facts and Pass the Bucket
• George Russell: So What
• Derek Bailey: Epiphany
• Bobby Shew: Breakfast Wine
• Bob Wasserman: Solo
• Joe McPhee: Visitation
• Bobby Watson: Jewel
• Branford Marsalis: Scenes In The City
• Wynton Marsalis: Think of One
• Ronald Shannon Jackson: Barbeque Dog
• Shadowfax: Shadowdance
• Michael Franks: Passionfruit
• John Pizzarelli: I'm Hip

  Deaths

• 13
• * Barry Galbraith, American guitarist.
• * John Ouwerx, Belgian pianist and composer.
• 28 – Sweet Emma Barrett, American pianist and singer.

• 2 – Moses Allen, American upright bassist.
• 12 – Eubie Blake, American composer, lyricist, and pianist.

• 14 – Gigi Gryce, American saxophonist, flautist, clarinetist, and composer.
• 16 – Ernie Royal, American trumpeter.

• 1 – Ken Kersey, Canadian pianist.
• 7 – Cag Cagnolatti, American trumpeter.
• 13 – Dolo Coker, American pianist and composer.
• 22 – Earl Hines, American pianist and bandleader.
• 27 – Kippie Moeketsi, South-African alto saxophonist.

• 6 – Kai Winding, Danish-American trombonist and composer.
• 25 – Paul Quinichette, American tenor saxophonist.

• 19 – Al Lucas, Canadian upright bassist.

• 1 – Sandy Mosse, American tenor saxophonist.
• 5 – Harry James, American trumpeter and band leader.
• 8 – Lammar Wright Jr., American trumpeter.
• 12 – Chris Wood, English saxophonist and flautist, Traffic.
• 15 – Sadik Hakim, American pianist and composer.
• 18 – Bob Cornford, British jazz pianist and composer.

• 9 – Don Ewell, American stride pianist.

• 1 – Arthur Herzog Jr., American songwriter and composer.
• 15
• * Willie Bobo, Puerto Rican-American percussionist.
• * Johnny Hartman, African-American singer.
• 18 – Roy Milton, American singer, drummer, and bandleader.

• Wilbert Baranco, American pianist and bandleader.

• 8 – James Booker, American keyboarder.
• 12 – Preston Jackson, American trombonist.
• 22 – Kamil Běhounek, Bohemian-Czech accordionist.
• 25 – Waymon Reed, American trumpeter.

• 13 – Marshall Brown, American trombonist and multi-instrumentalist.
• 16 – Harry Miller, South African upright bassist.

• Pat Smythe, Scottish pianist.

  Births

• 20 – Eivind Lønning, Norwegian trumpeter.

• 22 – Lars Winther, Danish pianist, composer, producer, and arranger.

• 10 – Lőrinc Barabás, Hungarian trumpeter and composer.
• 31 – Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, American trumpeter.

• 20 – Ryan Blotnick, American guitarist.

• 8 – Nikoletta Szőke, Hungarian singer.
• 26 – Rune Nergaard, Norwegian upright bassist, Bushman's Revenge.

• 17 – Jaimie Branch, American trumpeter and electronica artist.
• 24 – Gard Nilssen, Norwegian drummer, Puma.
• 30 – Espen Berg, Norwegian pianist, arranger, and composer, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra.

• 5 – Sofia Jernberg, Ethiopian-Swedish experimental singer and composer.
• 8 – Jamie Brooks, English pianist, keyboarder, composer, and arranger.
• 13 – Harold Lopez Nussa, Cuban jazz pianist.
• 22 – Andreas Ulvo, Norwegian pianist, organist, keyboarder, and composer, Eple Trio.

• 14 – Amy Winehouse, English singer and songwriter.
• 19 – Petter Eldh, Swedish upright bassist and composer.
• 25 – Hayden Powell, English trumpeter and composer.
• 26 – Magnus Hjorth, Swedish pianist and composer.

• 14 – Andreas Stensland Løwe, Norwegian pianist, Splashgirl.

• 10
• * Bez Idakula, Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and composer.
• * David Virelles, Cuban pianist and composer.
• * Svein Magnus Furu, Norwegian saxophonist composer, and music journalist.

• Emanuele Maniscalco, Italian pianist, drummer, and composer.
• Guro Skumsnes Moe, Norwegian upright bassist and singer.
• Lauren Kinsella, Irish singer and composer.
• Tom Hasslan, Norwegian guitarist.