1996 in jazz

Events

March

• 29 – The 23rd Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway.

  May

• 22 – The 24th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway.
• 24 – The 25th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany.

  June

• 27 – The 17th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Canada.
• 28 – The 6th Jazz Fest Wien started in Wien, Austria.

  July

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

  August

• 9 – The 13th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales.

  September

• 19 – The 39th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California.

  Album releases

• Guillermo Gregorio: Approximately
• Ivo Perelman: Seeds, Visions and Counterpoint
• Michael Formanek: Nature of the Beast
• David Ware: Wisdom of Uncertainty
• Maria Schneider: Coming About
• Zeena Parkins: Mouth=Maul=Betrayer
• Kenny Wheeler: Siren's Song
• Gerry Hemingway: Perfect World
• Matthew Shipp: By the Law of Music
• Ivo Perelman: Sound Hierarchy
• Bob Neill: Triptycal
• Courtney Pine: Modern Day Jazz Stories
• Joshua Redman: Freedom in the Groove
• 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
• Hugh Masekela: Notes of Life

  Deaths

• 2 – Viatcheslav Nazarov, American trombonist, pianist and vocalist.
• 5 – Gus Bivona, American reedist.
• 11 – Ike Isaacs, Burmese-English guitarist.
• 13 – Morty Corb, American upright bassist.
• 20 – Gerry Mulligan, American saxophonist, and clarinetist.
• 28 – Pauline Braddy, African-American drummer, International Sweethearts of Rhythm.
• 29 – Ray Leatherwood, American upright bassist.

• 7 – Tiny Winters, English bassist and vocalist.
• 8 – Mercer Ellington, American trumpeter, composer, and arranger.
• 12 – Alan Dawson, American drummer.

• 5 – Herb Hall, American clarinetist and saxophonist.
• 27 – Howard Wyeth, American drummer and pianist

• 1 – Billy Byers, American trombonist and arranger.
• 25 – Barney Wilen, American saxophonist and composer.
• 27 – Pud Brown, American reedist.
• 28 – Jimmy Rowles, American pianist, vocalist, and composer.

• 1 – Don Grolnick, American pianist and composer.
• 6 – Norma Teagarden, American pianist.
• 10 – Frankie Sakai, Japanese comedian, actor, and musician.
• 15 – Ella Fitzgerald, American vocalist.
• 16 – Gil Cuppini, Italian drummer and bandleader.

• 3 – Pim Jacobs, American trumpeter.
• 17 – Amancio D'Silva, Indian guitarist and composer.

• 6 – Bobby Enriquez, Filipino pianist.
• 24 – Carlos Vidal Bolado, American conga drum musician.
• 25 – Fred Adison, French vocalist, drummer, and bandleader.
• 31 – Milt Larkin, American trumpeter and bandleader.

• 20 – Paul Weston, American pianist, arranger, composer, and conductor.

• 11 – Johnny Costa, American pianist.

• 2 – Eva Cassidy, American vocalist and guitarist.
• 4 – Ray Linn, American trumpeter.
• 5 – Eddie Harris, American saxophonist.
• 7
• * Carmell Jones, American trumpet player.
• * Kid Sheik, American trumpeter.
• 12 – Alan Littlejohn, American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and bandleader.
• 13 – Bill Doggett, American pianist and organist.
• 23 – Art Porter Jr., American saxophonist.

• 19 – Bobby Cole, American singer and pianist.
• 23 – Ronnie Scott, English tenor saxophonist and jazz club owner.
• 26 – Oscar Valdambrini, Italian jazz trumpeter.

  Births

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

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