1994 in jazz

Events

March

• 25 – The 21st Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway.

  May

• 20 – The 23rd Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany.
• 26 – The 22nd Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway.

  July

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

  August

• 12 – The 11th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales.

  September

• 16 – The 37th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California.

  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: Misteriosos
• 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 Quartet West: Always Say Goodbye
• European Music Orchestra: Guest

  Deaths

• 1 – James Clay, American tenor saxophonist and flutist.
• 30 – Tiny Davis, American trumpeter and vocalist.

• 8 – Raymond Scott, American composer, band leader, pianist, and electronic instrument inventor.

• 9 – Maurice Purtill or Moe Purtill, American drummer, Glenn Miller Orchestra.
• 13 – Danny Barker, American guitarist, banjoist, vocalist, and author.
• 19 – Rafig Babayev, Azerbaijani musician and composer.
• 24 – Tommy Benford, American drummer.

• 2 – Rowland Greenberg, Norwegian trumpeter.
• 6 – Dick Cary, American trumpeter, composer, and arranger.
• 16 – Ralph Ellison, American novelist and literary critic.
• 22 – Jack Bentley, English trombonist, journalist, and scriptwriter.

• 23 – Joe Pass, American guitarist of Sicilian descent.
• 25 – Eric Gale, American guitarist.
• 26
• * Gil Fuller, American composer and arranger.
• * Sonny Sharrock, American guitarist.
• 27 – Red Rodney, American trumpeter.
• 29 – Oliver Jackson, American drummer.
• 30 – Jean Omer, Belgian reedist and bandleader.

• 7 – Willie Humphrey, American clarinetist.
• 14
• * Henry Mancini, American composer, conductor, and arranger.
• * Lionel Grigson, British pianist, cornettist, trumpeter, and composer.
• 21 – Dennis Berry, English saxophonist, composer, arranger, and producer.

• 11 – Lex Humphries, American drummer.

• 6 – Jacques Pelzer, Belgian alto saxophonist and flautist.
• 12 – Gene Cherico, American upright bassist.
• 18 – Charles Redland, Swedish saxophonist, bandleader, and composer.

• 5 – Billy Usselton, American jazz reed player.
• 6 – Max Kaminsky, American trumpeter and bandleader.
• 13 – John Stevens, English drummer, Spontaneous Music Ensemble.
• 16 – Bernie Leighton, American pianist.
• 20 – Jimmy Hamilton, American clarinetist, tenor saxophonist, and composer.
• 22
• * Bob Lively, American saxophonist.
• * Leonard Feather, British pianist, composer, and producer.
• 29 – David van Kriedt, American composer, saxophonist, and music teacher.

• 3 – Scoville Browne, American reedist.
• 4 – Danny Gatton, American guitarist.
• 5 – Nini Rosso, Italian jazz trumpeter and composer.
• 8 – John Neely, American tenor saxophonist and arranger.
• 21
• * Lanny Steele, American pianist and composer.
• * Thore Ehrling, Swedish trumpeter, composer, and bandleader.

• 4 – Jack Sharpe, English saxophonist and bandleader.
• 7 – Shorty Rogers, American trumpeter and flugelhornist.
• 10 – Carmen McRae, American singer, composer, pianist, and actress.
• 18 – Cab Calloway, American singer and bandleader.
• 28 – Al Levitt, American drummer.
• 30 – Connie Kay, American drummer.

• 8 – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Brazilian composer, pianist, songwriter, arranger, and singer.
• 14 – Mary Ann McCall, American singer.
• 19
• * Bill Douglass, American drummer.
• * Noel Pointer, American jazz violinist and record producer.

Births

• 8 – Nikki Yanofsky, Canadian singer.

• 23 – Gentle Bones, Singaporean singer and composer.

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

• 3 – Signe Førre, Norwegian singer, upright bassist, and composer.

• Amalie Holt Kleive, Norwegian singer and composer.
• Billie Black, British singer.
• Veronica Swift, American singer.