2016 in jazz

Events

January

• 21
• * The 35th annual Djangofestival started on Cosmopolite in Oslo, Norway.
• * The 10th Ice Music Festival started in Geilo, Norway.
• 27 – The 5th Bodø Jazz Open started in Bodø, Norway.
• 30 – Eirik Hegdal was awarded the 2015 Jazz Spellemannprisen for the album Team Hegdal – Vol. 3.

  February

• 4 – The 18th Polarjazz Festival started in Longyearbyen, Svalbard.
• 5 – Knut Kristiansen and Bergen Big Band's release concert for the album Kuria Suite at Verftet in Bergen.
• 16 – Andreas Loven's release concert for the album District Six at Victoria – National Jazz Scene in Oslo.
• 28 – Jazz violinist from Denmark, Svend Asmussen, turned 100 years.

  March

• 3
• * Vinterjazzfestivalen started in Fredrikstad, Norway.
• * Frode Alnæs' release concert for the album Kanestrøm at Victoria – National Jazz Scene in Oslo.
• 4 – The 12th Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival started in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• 18 – The 43rd Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway.
• 19
• * Øyvind Skarbø was awarded the 2016 Vossajazzprisen.
• * Nils Økland performed Glødetrådar, the commissioned work for Vossajazz 2016.

  April

• 22
• * The 47th New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival started in USA.
• * The 5th Torino Jazz Festival started in Turin.
• 28 – The 22nd SoddJazz started in Inderøy, Norway.
• 30 – The International Jazz Day.
• * At the White House President Obama invited to a concert featuring Aretha Franklin, Diana Krall, Sting, Esperanza Spalding, and Herbie Hancock, among others.

  May

• 3
• * The 27th MaiJazz started in Stavanger, Norway.
• * The 38th Trondheim Jazz Festival started in Trondheim, Norway.
• 4 – The 12th AnJazz starts in Hamar, Norway.
• 5 – Karin Krog / John Surman Group played at Herr Nilsen in Oslo, Norway.
• 7 – Olga Konkova / Per Mathisen & Friends played at Herr Nilsen in Oslo, Norway.
• 13 – The 45th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany
• 21 – Petter Wettre Next Generation 2.0 played at Herr Nilsen in Oslo, Norway.
• 26 – The 44th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway
• 28 – Lage Lund Trio played at Herr Nilsen in Oslo, Norway.

  June

• 9 – Knut Reiersrud Band played at the venue Herr Nilsen in Oslo, Norway.
• 23 – The 26th JazzBaltica started in Schloss Salzau close to Kiel, Germany.
• 28 – The 28th Jazz Fest Wien started in Vienna, Austria.
• 29 – The 36th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

  July

• 1 – The 50th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland.
• 3 – The 38th Copenhagen Jazz Festival starts in Copenhagen, Denmark.
• 6
• * The 52nd Kongsberg Jazzfestival started at Kongsberg, Norway.
• * Susanna Wallumrød was recipient of the Kongsberg Jazz Award or DNB.prisen 2016 at the Kongsberg Jazzfestival.
• 7
• * The 16th Stavernfestivalen started in Stavern, Norway.
• * The 69th Nice Jazz Festival started in Nice, France.
• 8
• * The Baltic Jazz festival started in Finland.
• * The 41st North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands.
• 9
• * The 28th Aarhus Jazz Festival started in Aarhus, Denmark.
• * The 51st Pori Jazz Festival started in Pori, Finland.
• 18 – The 56th Moldejazz started in Molde, Norway.
• 22 – The 21st Canal Street starts in Arendal, Norway.
• 29 – The 60th Newport Jazz Festival starts in Newport, Rhode Island.

  August

• 4 – The 22nd Hemnesjazz started in Hemnesberget, Norway.
• 9 – The 18th Øyafestivalen started in Oslo, Norway.
• 10
• * The 5th Kids in Jazz festival started in Oslo, Norway as part of the Oslo Jazzfestival.
• * The 30th Sildajazz started in Haugesund, Norway.
• 12 – The 32nd Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales.
• 14 – The 31st Oslo Jazzfestival started in Oslo, Norway.

  September

• 4 – The 11th Punktfestivalen started in Kristiansand, Norway.
• 16 – The 59th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California.

  October

• 7 – The 33rd Stockholm Jazz Festival started in Stockholm, Sweden.
• 13 – The 33rd DølaJazz started in Lillehammer, Norway.

  November

• 11 – The 25th London Jazz Festival started in London, England.

  December

• 29 – The 11th RIBBEjazz started in Lillestrøm, Norway.

  Albums released

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Unknown date

• Quiet Revolution by Ben Allison solo piano.

• Return by Jack DeJohnette solo piano.

• Strength and Sanity by Don Friedman Piano Trio.

• Meantime by Frank Kimbrough.

• Some Other Time by Noah Preminger.

  Deaths

January

• 3 – Paul Bley, Canadian pianist.
• 4 – Long John Hunter, American guitarist and singer-songwriter.
• 6 – Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros, Cuban trumpeter.
• 7 – Alan Haven, English organist.
• 16 – Hubert Giraud, French composer and lyricist.
• 31 – Janusz Muniak, Polish saxophonist, flautist, arranger, and composer.

  February

• 4 – Maurice White, American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and bandleader, Earth, Wind & Fire.
• 19 – Harald Devold, Norwegian saxophonist .

  March

• 9 – Naná Vasconcelos, Brazilian percussionist.
• 10
• * Ernestine Anderson, American jazz and blues singer.
• * Keith Emerson, English pianist and keyboardist, Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
• 11 – Joe Ascione, American drummer.
• 15 – Ryo Fukui, Japanese pianist.
• 16 – Frank Sinatra Jr., American singer, songwriter, and conductor.
• 22 – Selçuk Sun, Turkish upright bassist and composer.
• 24 – Roger Cicero, German singer and songwriter.
• 26 – David Baker, American symphonic jazz composer.

  April

• 2 – Gato Barbieri, Argentine saxophonist.
• 3
• * Bill Henderson, American singer and actor.
• *Don Francks, Canadian singer and actor.
• 4 – Getatchew Mekurya, Ethiopian saxophonist.
• 5 – Zena Latto, American clarinetist and saxophonist.
• 6 – Dennis Davis, American drummer .
• 13
• * Jeremy Steig, American flautist.
• * Mariano Mores, Argentine tango composer and pianist.
• * Pete Yellin, American saxophonist and educator.
• 21 – Prince Rogers Nelson, American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer.
• 24
• * Billy Paul, Congolese singer and musician.
• * Papa Wemba, American soul singer.

  May

• 1 – Doug Raney, American guitarist.
• 6
• * Candye Kane, American singer and entertainer .
• * Johannes Bauer, German trombonist.
• 11 – Joe Temperley, Scottish saxophonist.
• 13 – Buster Cooper, American trombonist.
• 16 – Fredrik Norén, Swedish drummer and band leader.

  June

• 8 – Terje Fjærn, orchestra conductor .
• 16 – Charles Thompson, American swing and bebop pianist, and organist, composer.
• 17 – Willy Andresen, Norwegian pianist and band leader.
• 21 – Pat Friday, American singer.
• 23 – Shelley Moore, English-born American singer.
• 24 – Bernie Worrell, American keyboarder and composer, Parliament-Funkadelic.
• 26 – Mike Pedicin, American saxophonist and bandleader.
• 30 – Don Friedman, American pianist.

  July

• 15
• * Charles Davis, American saxophonist and composer.
• * Roland Prince, Antiguan guitarist.
• 16 – Claude Williamson, American pianist.
• 167 – Peter Appleyard, British–Canadian vibraphonist, percussionist, and composer.
• 22 – Dominic Duval, American free jazz bassist.
• 31 – Jon Klette, Norwegian saxophonist.

  August

• 5 – David Attwooll, British drummer, poet, and publisher, Henry Cow.
• 6 – Pete Fountain, American clarinetist.
• 13 – Connie Crothers, American pianist .
• 15 – Bobby Hutcherson, American vibraphone and marimba player.
• 17 – John Fischer, American pianist, composer, and visual artist.
• 18 – Fred Nøddelund, Norwegian flugelhornist and band leader.
• 19
• * Derek Smith, British pianist.
• * Horacio Salgán, Argentine tango pianist.
• 20
• * Irving Fields, American pianist and lounge music artist.
• * Louis Stewart, American guitarist.
• 22 – Toots Thielemans, Belgian and American harmonica player and guitarist.
• 25 – Rudy Van Gelder, American recording engineer.
• 29 – Michael Di Pasqua, American drummer and percussionist .

  September

• 24 – Buckwheat Zydeco, American accordionist and zydeco musician .
• 26 – Karel Růžička, Czech jazz pianist, composer, and music teacher.

  October

• 2 – Steve Byrd, English guitarist, Gillan and Kim Wilde .
• 13 – Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thai monarch and saxophonist.
• 18 – Mike Daniels, British trumpeter and bandleader.
• 24 – Shirley Bunnie Foy, American singer, songwriter, and percussionist.
• 27 – Bobby Wellins, Scottish tenor saxophonist.

  November

• 1 – Pocho La Pantera, Argentine cumbia singer.
• 2 – Bob Cranshaw, American bassist.
• 3 – Kay Starr, American singer .
• 9 – Al Caiola, American guitarist, composer, and arranger.
• 11 – Victor Bailey, American bass guitarist.
• 12 – Guilherme Franco, Brazilian percussionist.
• 13 – Leon Russell, American musician and songwriter.
• 15 – Mose Allison, American pianist and singer.
• 20 – Hod O'Brien, American pianist.
• 24 – Chuck Flores, American drummer.
• 28 – Carlton Kitto, Indian guitarist.
• 30 – Ivar Thomassen, Norwegian folk singer, songwriter, and jazz pianist.

  December

• 6
• * Alonzo Levister, American composer, arranger, music producer, and pianist.
• * Michael White, American violinist.
• 7 – Greg Lake, English guitarist, bassist, singer, songwriter, and music producer.
• 15 – Dave Shepherd, English clarinetist.
• 18 – Léo Marjane, French singer.
• 21 – Betty Loo Taylor, Hawaii-American pianist.
• 23 – Carlos Averhoff, Cuban tenor saxophonist.
• 26 – Alphonse Mouzon, American drummer and the owner of Tenacious Records.
• 28 – Knut Kiesewetter, German trombonist, singer, songwriter, and producer.