1940 in jazz

Events

• The American Society of Composers, Artists and Producers proposed a new contract increasing by 100 percent the royalties they received from broadcast use.

  Top hits of the year

Album releases

• Duke Ellington: In A Mellotone
• Duke Ellington: Sophisticated Lady

  Standards

Deaths

• 24 – Guy Kelly, American jazz trumpeter.

• 23 – Walter Barnes, American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist and bandleader.

• 1 – Arthur Whetsol, "sweet" trumpeter for Duke Ellington's Washingtonians.

• 8
• * Einar Aaron Swan, American musician, arranger and composer.
• * Johnny Dodds, New Orleans based jazz clarinetist and alto saxophonist.

• Charley Straight, American pianist, bandleader and composer.

• 6 – Charlie Dixon, American jazz banjoist.
• 21 – Hal Kemp, jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, composer, and arranger.

  Births

• 6 – Laudir de Oliveira, Brazilian percussionist in Chicago.
• 10 – Waymon Reed, American trumpeter.
• 12 – Ronald Shannon Jackson, American drummer.
• 18
• * Don Thompson, Canadian double-bassist, pianist, and vibraphonist.
• * Lindsay L. Cooper, Scottish upright bass, electric bass and cello player.
• 22 – Eberhard Weber, German double-bassist and composer.
• 30 – Tony Levin, English drummer.

• 4 – Maurice J. Summerfield, British guitarist, author, publisher, and businessman.
• 10 – Kenny Rankin, American singer and songwriter.
• 14 – Bob Kerr, English trumpeter and cornetist, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.
• 29 – Paul Rutherford, English trombonist.

• 1
• * Gene Perla, American bassist.
• * Ralph Towner, American guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer.
• 10 – Louis Moholo, South African drummer.
• 11 – Bobby Graham, English drummer.
• 12 – Al Jarreau, American singer.
• 16 – Vagif Mustafazadeh, Azerbaijani pianist and composer.
• 19
• * Keith Smith, English trumpeter.
• * Roger Dawson, American percussionist.
• 20 – Frode Thingnæs, Norwegian trombonist and orchestra leader.
• 22 – Keith Relf, English singer, The Yardbirds.
• 24 – S. Frederick Starr, American clarinetist.
• 25 – Lonnie Hillyer, American trumpeter.
• 26 – Lew Tabackin, American flutist and tenor saxophonist.
• 29 – Allan Botschinsky, Danish trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer.
• 30 – Astrud Gilberto, Brazilian singer.

• 2 – Dave MacRae, New Zealand keyboardist.
• 6 – Don Myrick, American saxophonist, The Pharaohs.
• 12 – Herbie Hancock, American pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, and composer.
• 13
• * Bjørn Stokstad, Norwegian clarinettist and architect.
• * Neal Creque, American organist and composer.
• 16 – Ole Jacob Hansen, Norwegian drummer.
• 23 – Pierre Courbois, Dutch drummer, bandleader and composer.
• 28 – Doudou Gouirand, French saxophonist and composer.
• 29 – George Adams, American saxophonist.

• 1 – Carlos Ward, saxophonist and flautist.
• 9 – Dick Morrissey, British saxophonist and composer.
• 15 – Bob Cornford, British jazz pianist and composer.
• 17 – Alan Kay, American guitarist and computer scientist.
• 23 – Bjørn Johansen, Norwegian saxophonist.
• 25 – Larry Rosen, American drummer, entrepreneur, and music producer.
• 28 – Hans Dulfer, Dutch tenor saxophonist.

• 2 – Karel Růžička, Czech jazz pianist, composer, and music teacher.
• 9 – Curtis Boyd, American drummer.
• 10 – John Stevens, English drummer.
• 15 – Nancy King, American singer.
• 17 – Chuck Rainey, American bass guitarist.
• 18 – Sue Raney, American singer.

• 5 – Arthur Blythe, American alto saxophonist and composer.
• 10 – Brian Priestley, English writer, pianist and arranger.
• 19 – John Roache, American pianist.
• 20 – Monica Dominique, Swedish pianist, composer and actress.
• 26 – Casey Jones, American drummer, singer, and record producer.

• 3
• * Ray Draper, American tuba player.
• * Roscoe Mitchell, American saxophonist and composer.
• 6 – Egil Kapstad, Norwegian pianist.
• 11 – Peter King, English saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.
• 12 – Thurman Green, American trombonist.
• 18 – Adam Makowicz, Polish pianist and composer.
• 27 – Sonny Sharrock, American guitarist.
• 29 – Bennie Maupin, American saxophonist, flautist, and bass clarinetist.
• 31 – Wilton Felder, American saxophone and bass player.

• 2 – Mick Pyne, English pianist.
• 3 – James Dapogny, American musicologist, pianist and bandleader.
• 10
• * Dave Burrell, American pianist.
• * Roy Ayers, American composer and vibraphone player.
• 12 – John DeFrancesco, American organist and vocalist.
• 13 – Alex Riel, Danish drummer.
• 16
• * Hamiet Bluiett, American saxophonist, clarinetist and composer.
• * Lisle Atkinson, American upright bassist.
• 21
• * Dick Shearer, American jazz trombonist.
• * John Pochee, Australian drummer and bandleader.
• 26 – Gary Bartz, American saxophonist and clarinetist.
• 27 – Mike Nock, New Zealand pianist.
• 28
• * Rod Mason, English trumpeter and singer.
• * Sirone, American bassist and composer.

• 1
• * Henry Franklin, American upright bassist.
• * Ramon Carranza, Venezuelan saxophonist and composer.
• 4 – Steve Swallow, American bassist and composer.
• 7 – Larry Young, American organist and pianist.
• 12 – John Brunious, American trumpeter and bandleader.
• 13 – Pharoah Sanders, American saxophonist.
• 21 – Manfred Mann, South African–British keyboard player, guitarist, and vocalist, Manfred Mann's Earth Band.
• 23 – Tom McGrath, Scottish pianist and playwright.
• 26 – Eddie Henderson, American trumpet and flugelhornist.

• 8
• * Kenny Cox, American pianist.
• * Terri Quaye, English singer, pianist and percussionist.
• 11 – Mario Pavone, American bassist.
• 13 – Janet Lawson, American singer and educator.
• 24 – Wendell Logan, American composer.
• 28 – Clem Curtis, Trinidadian British singer.
• 29
• * Billy Hart, American drummer and educator.
• * Chuck Mangione, American flugelhorn player and composer.

• 6 – Jay Leonhart, American upright bassist, singer, and songwriter.
• 14 – Gustavo Bergalli, Argentine trumpeter and bandleader.
• 20 – Larry Willis, American pianist and composer.
• 21 – Frank Zappa, American guitarist, record producer.
• 22 – Boris Lindqvist, Swedish singer and musician.
• 28 – Lonnie Liston Smith, American keyboarder.
• 30 – Jerry Granelli, American-Canadian jazz drummer.
• 31 – Mani Neumeier, German drummer.

• Lyn Cornell, English singer, The Vernons Girls.