Calendar
Jazz birthdays, month by month
Each month the series raises a glass to the musicians born in it. Pick a month on the left; it opens on the current one. A personal selection, not an encyclopedia.
January5 birthdays
- Jan 1Milt Jacksonvibraphone · Modern Jazz Quartet · b. 1923
- Jan 9Kenny Clarkedrums · bebop's timekeeper, later of Paris · b. 1914
- Jan 22J.J. Johnsontrombone · b. 1924
- Jan 23Django Reinhardtguitar · Quintette du Hot Club de France · b. 1910
- Jan 30Roy Eldridgetrumpet · b. 1911
February5 birthdays
- Feb 1James P. Johnsonpiano · father of stride · b. 1894
- Feb 2Sonny Stittalto and tenor saxophone · b. 1924
- Feb 2Stan Getztenor saxophone · Getz/Gilberto · b. 1927
- Feb 21Nina Simonepiano, voice · b. 1933
- Feb 27Dexter Gordontenor saxophone · b. 1923
March6 birthdays
- Mar 2Eddie “Lockjaw” Davistenor saxophone · Basie, and the two-tenor band with Johnny Griffin · b. 1922
- Mar 6Wes Montgomeryguitar · b. 1923
- Mar 9Ornette Colemanalto saxophone · The Shape of Jazz to Come · b. 1930
- Mar 17Nat King Colepiano, voice · b. 1919
- Mar 27Ben Webstertenor saxophone · b. 1909
- Mar 27Sarah Vaughanvoice · b. 1924
April11 birthdays
- Apr 4Hugh Masekelatrumpet, flugelhorn · South Africa · b. 1939
- Apr 6Randy Westonpiano · Brooklyn to Tangier · b. 1926
- Apr 7Billie Holidayvoice · b. 1915
- Apr 7Freddie Hubbardtrumpet · b. 1938
- Apr 12Herbie Hancockpiano, keyboards · b. 1940
- Apr 15Bessie Smithvoice · Empress of the Blues · b. 1894
- Apr 22Charles Mingusbass, composer · b. 1922
- Apr 24Joe Hendersontenor saxophone · b. 1937
- Apr 25Ella Fitzgeraldvoice · b. 1917
- Apr 29Duke Ellingtonpiano, composer, bandleader · b. 1899
- Apr 29Toots Thielemansharmonica, guitar · b. 1922
May9 birthdays
- May 8Mary Lou Williamspiano, composer · b. 1910
- May 9Tania Mariapiano, voice · Brazil · b. 1948
- May 14Sidney Bechetsoprano saxophone, clarinet · b. 1897
- May 16Betty Cartervoice · b. 1929
- May 17Jackie McLeanalto saxophone · b. 1931
- May 21Fats Wallerpiano, voice · b. 1904
- May 22Sun Rapiano, keyboards · the Arkestra · b. 1914
- May 26Miles Davistrumpet · b. 1926
- May 30Benny Goodmanclarinet · b. 1909
June7 birthdays
- Jun 6Grant Greenguitar · b. 1935
- Jun 12Chick Coreapiano, keyboards · b. 1941
- Jun 15Erroll Garnerpiano · Misty · b. 1921
- Jun 22Hermeto Pascoalmulti-instrumentalist · Brazil · b. 1936
- Jun 27Elmo Hopepiano, composer · Monk's and Bud Powell's friend · b. 1923
- Jun 30Lena Hornevoice · b. 1917
- Jun 30Stanley Clarkebass · b. 1951
July7 birthdays
- Jul 2Ahmad Jamalpiano · b. 1930
- Jul 7Hank Mobleytenor saxophone · b. 1930
- Jul 7Joe Zawinulkeyboards · Weather Report · b. 1932
- Jul 10Lee Morgantrumpet · b. 1938
- Jul 25Johnny Hodgesalto saxophone · Ellington Orchestra · b. 1907
- Jul 31Hank Jonespiano · b. 1918
- Jul 31Kenny Burrellguitar · b. 1931
August13 birthdays
- Aug 4Louis Armstrongtrumpet, voice · b. 1901
- Aug 6Abbey Lincolnvoice · b. 1930
- Aug 6Baden Powellguitar · Brazil · b. 1937
- Aug 6Charlie Hadenbass · b. 1937
- Aug 7Rahsaan Roland Kirksaxophones, flute · b. 1935
- Aug 8Benny Carteralto saxophone, arranger · b. 1907
- Aug 15Oscar Petersonpiano · b. 1925
- Aug 16Bill Evanspiano · b. 1929
- Aug 21Count Basiepiano, bandleader · b. 1904
- Aug 25Wayne Shortersaxophones, composer · b. 1933
- Aug 27Lester Youngtenor saxophone · Prez · b. 1909
- Aug 29Charlie Parkeralto saxophone · Bird · b. 1920
- Aug 29Dinah Washingtonvoice · b. 1924
September8 birthdays
- Sep 2Horace Silverpiano · Song for My Father · b. 1928
- Sep 7Sonny Rollinstenor saxophone · b. 1930
- Sep 9Elvin Jonesdrums · the Coltrane quartet · b. 1927
- Sep 15Cannonball Adderleyalto saxophone · b. 1928
- Sep 23John Coltranetenor and soprano saxophone · A Love Supreme · b. 1926
- Sep 23Ray Charlespiano, voice · b. 1930
- Sep 27Bud Powellpiano · b. 1924
- Sep 30Buddy Richdrums · b. 1917
October10 birthdays
- Oct 9Abdullah Ibrahimpiano · Cape Town · b. 1934
- Oct 10Thelonious Monkpiano, composer · b. 1917
- Oct 11Art Blakeydrums · the Jazz Messengers · b. 1919
- Oct 13Art Tatumpiano · b. 1909
- Oct 13Pharoah Sanderstenor saxophone · b. 1940
- Oct 13Ray Brownbass · b. 1926
- Oct 18Wynton Marsalistrumpet · Jazz at Lincoln Center · b. 1961
- Oct 20Jelly Roll Mortonpiano, composer · New Orleans · b. 1890
- Oct 21Dizzy Gillespietrumpet · b. 1917
- Oct 30Clifford Browntrumpet · b. 1930
November7 birthdays
- Nov 21Coleman Hawkinstenor saxophone · Body and Soul · b. 1904
- Nov 24Scott Joplinpiano, composer · ragtime · b. 1868
- Nov 24Teddy Wilsonpiano · b. 1912
- Nov 25Paul Desmondalto saxophone · Take Five · b. 1924
- Nov 27Don Sleettrumpet · San Diego; one album as leader, All Members (1961) · b. 1938
- Nov 27Randy Breckertrumpet · b. 1945
- Nov 28Gato Barbieritenor saxophone · Argentina · b. 1932
December10 birthdays
- Dec 4Cassandra Wilsonvoice · b. 1955
- Dec 6Dave Brubeckpiano · Time Out · b. 1920
- Dec 8Jimmy SmithHammond organ · b. 1928
- Dec 9Donald Byrdtrumpet · b. 1932
- Dec 11McCoy Tynerpiano · the Coltrane quartet · b. 1938
- Dec 12Manu Dibangosaxophone · Cameroon · b. 1933
- Dec 12Tony Williamsdrums · b. 1945
- Dec 23Chet Bakertrumpet, voice · b. 1929
- Dec 25Cab Callowayvoice, bandleader · b. 1907
- Dec 28Earl Hinespiano · b. 1903