1987 in jazz

Events

April

• 10 – The 14th Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway.

  May

• 20 – The 15th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway.

  June

• 5 – The 16th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany.
• 26 – The 8th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

  July

• 2 – The 21st Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland.
• 10 – The 12th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands.

  August

• 21 – The 4th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales.

  September

• 15 – The 30th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California.

  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: 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

• 14 – Alton Purnell, American pianist.
• 16 – Robert De Kers, Belgian trumpeter and bandleader.

• 2
• * Alfred Lion, German-American record executive, Blue Note Records.
• * Spike Hughes, British upright bassist, composer, and music journalist.

• 1 – Freddie Green, American guitarist.
• 6 – Eddie Durham, American guitarist, trombonist, composer, and arranger.

• 2 – Buddy Rich, American drummer and bandleader.
• 7 – Maxine Sullivan, American singer.

• 4 — Wilbur Little, African-American bassist.
• 12 – Victor Feldman, English pianist and percussionist.

• 17 – Howard McGhee, American trumpeter.

• 21 – Jaco Pastorius, American bass guitarist.

• 15 – Pete Carpenter, American trombonist.
• 29 – Woody Herman, American clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader.

• 10 – Slam Stewart, American upright bassist.
• 18 – Warne Marsh, American tenor saxophonist.

  Births

• 28 – Eldar Djangirov, American pianist.

• 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.

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

• 11 – Joss Stone, English singer, songwriter and actress.
• 26 – Kim-Erik Pedersen, Norwegian saxophonist.
• 30 – August Rosenbaum, Danish pianist, composer, and arranger

• 7 – Heida Mobeck, Norwegian tubist and bass guitarist.
• 10 – Typh Barrow, Belgian singer, songwriter, composer and pianist.

• 26 – Evelina Sašenko, Lithuanian singer of Polish-Ukrainian descent.

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

• 12 – Bjørnar Kaldefoss Tveite, Norwegian upright bassist.
• 25 – André Drage, Norwegian drummer and composer.

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

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

• 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.