# 1987 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1987.

## Events
### April

* 10 – The 14th Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway (April 10 – 12).

### May

* 20 – The 15th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 20 – June 3).

### June

* 5 – The 16th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (June 5 – 8).
* 26 – The 8th Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (June 26 – July 6).

### July

* 2 – The 21st Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland (July 2 – 19).
* 10 – The 12th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands (July 10 – 12).

### August

* 21 – The 4th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales (April 21 – 23).

### September

* 15 – The 30th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 15 – 17).

## Album releases

* Henry Threadgill: Easily Slip Into Another World
* Anthony Davis: Undine
* Steve Lacy: Momentum
* John Zorn: Spillane
* Sun Ra Arkestra: Reflections in Blue
* Sun Ra Arkestra: Hours After
* Hank Roberts: Black Pastels
* Marilyn Crispell: Labyrinths
* Guy Klucevsek: Scenes From A Mirage
* David Torn: Cloud About Mercury
* Bobby Previte: Dull Bang, Gushing Sound, Human Shriek
* Tim Berne: Sanctified Dreams
* Borbetomagus: Fish That Sparkling Bubble
* Marty Ehrlich: Pliant Plaint
* Tim Berne: Fulton Street Maul
* Benny Carter: Central City Sketches
* Bobby Previte: Pushing The Envelope
* Phil Woods: Bouquet
* Danny Gottlieb: Aquamarine
* Dave Holland: The Razor's Edge
* Elements: Illumination
* Henry Kaiser: Crazy Backwards Alphabet
* Henry Kaiser: Devil In The Drain
* Kenny Wheeler: Flutter By, Butterfly
* Mark Helias: The Current Set
* Michael Brecker: Michael Brecker
* Montreux: Sign Language
* Sonny Sharrock: Seize the Rainbow
* Mulgrew Miller: Wingspan
* Neil Swainson: 49th Parallel
* Earthworks: Earthworks
* Chick Corea Elektric Band: Light Years
* Michael Franks: The Camera Never Lies
* Eliane Elias: Cross Currents
* Hugh Masekela: Tomorrow

## Deaths
### January

* 14 – Alton Purnell, American pianist (born 1911).
* 16 – Robert De Kers, Belgian trumpeter and bandleader (born 1906).

### February

* 2
** Alfred Lion, German-American record executive, Blue Note Records (born 1908).
** Spike Hughes, British upright bassist, composer, and music journalist (born 1908).

### March

* 1 – Freddie Green, American guitarist (born 1911).
* 6 – Eddie Durham, American guitarist, trombonist, composer, and arranger (born 1906).

### April

* 2 – Buddy Rich, American drummer and bandleader (born 1917).
* 7 – Maxine Sullivan, American singer (born 1911).

### May

* 4 — Wilbur Little, African-American bassist (born 1928).
* 12 – Victor Feldman, English pianist and percussionist (born 1934).

### July

* 17 – Howard McGhee, American trumpeter (born 1918).

### September

* 21 – Jaco Pastorius, American bass guitarist (born 1951).

### October

* 15 – Pete Carpenter, American trombonist (born 1914).
* 29 – Woody Herman, American clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader (born 1913).

### December

* 10 – Slam Stewart, American upright bassist (born 1914).
* 18 – Warne Marsh, American tenor saxophonist (born 1927).

## Births
### January

* 28 – Eldar Djangirov, American pianist.

### February

* 5 – Shai Maestro, Israeli pianist.
* 6 – Kaja Draksler, Slovenian pianist and composer.
* 15 – Trygve Waldemar Fiske, Norwegian upright bassist.
* 27 – Cory Henry, American organist, pianist, and music producer.

### March

* 13 – Harald Lassen, Norwegian saxophonist and pianist.
* 19 – Thana Alexa, Croatian-American vocalist and composer.

### April

* 11 – Joss Stone, English singer, songwriter and actress.
* 15 – Marquis Hill, American trumpeter, composer and bandleader.
* 26 – Kim-Erik Pedersen, Norwegian saxophonist.
* 30 – August Rosenbaum, Danish pianist, composer, and arranger

### May

* 10 – Typh Barrow, Belgian singer, songwriter, composer and pianist.

### July

* 17 – Tigran Hamasyan, Armenian pianist and composer.
* 26 – Evelina Sašenko, Lithuanian singer of Polish-Ukrainian descent.

### September

* 11 – Bjørn Marius Hegge, Norwegian upright bassist and composer, Hegge.
* 18 – Luísa Sobral, Portuguese singer and songwriter.

### October

* 12 – Bjørnar Kaldefoss Tveite, Norwegian upright bassist (Morning Has Occurred).
* 25 – André Drage, Norwegian drummer and composer.

### November

* 12 – Jamison Ross, American drummer and vocalist.
* 13 – Hanna Paulsberg, Norwegian tenor saxophonist and composer.

### December

* 12 – Marte Eberson, Norwegian pianist, keyboardist and composer.
* 25 – Julian Lage, American guitarist and composer.

### Unknown date

* Anja Lauvdal, Norwegian pianist, keyboardist, and composer.
* Hanne Kalleberg, Norwegian singer and composer.
* Mario Tomić, Croatian guitarist, arranger, composer, and producer.
* Oscar Grönberg, Swedish-Norwegian pianist.
* Thea Hjelmeland, Norwegian singer and songwriter.