1953 In Jazz
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

This is a timeline documenting events of
Jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
in the year 1953.


Events

*The musical
Porgy and Bess ''Porgy and Bess'' () is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play '' Porgy'', itse ...
was revived, playing in many European cities.


Album releases

*
Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...
/
Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but addi ...
: '' Jazz at Massey Hall'' *
Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...
: '' Piano Reflections'' *
Ben Webster Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909 – September 20, 1973) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Career Early life and career A native of Kansas City, Missouri, he studied violin, learned how to play blues on the piano from ...
: ''
King of the Tenors ''King of the Tenors'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Ben Webster featuring tracks recorded in 1953 for the Norgran Records, Norgran label and originally released as ''The Consummate Artistry of Ben Webster'' (MGN 1001). The album was re- ...
'' *
Modern Jazz Quartet The Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) was a jazz combo established in 1952 that played music influenced by classical music, classical, cool jazz, blues and bebop. For most of its history the Quartet consisted of John Lewis (pianist), John Lewis (piano), ...
: '' Django'' *
Shorty Rogers Milton "Shorty" Rogers (born Milton Rajonsky; April 14, 1924 – November 7, 1994) was an American jazz musician, one of the principal creators of West Coast jazz. He played trumpet and flugelhorn and was in demand for his skills as an arran ...
: ''
Cool and Crazy ''Cool and Crazy'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger Shorty Rogers originally released by RCA Victor in 1953 as a 10-inch LP.Jay Jay Johnson J.J. Johnson (January 22, 1924 – February 4, 2001), born James Louis Johnson and also known as Jay Jay Johnson, was an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger. Johnson was one of the earliest trombonists to embrace bebop. Biograph ...
: '' Four Trombones'' *
Stan Kenton Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though K ...
: ''
Sketches on Standards ''Sketches on Standards'' (subtitled ''Request selections from the Kenton Dance Library'') is an album by pianist and bandleader Stan Kenton featuring performances of jazz standards recorded in 1953 and originally released on the Capitol label as ...
''


Standards


Deaths

; April * 23 –
Peter DeRose Peter DeRose (or De Rose) (March 10, 1896 – April 23, 1953) was an American composer of jazz and pop music during the era of Tin Pan Alley. Biography A native of New York City, he showed a gift for all things musical at an early age. He lea ...
, American Hall of Fame composer of jazz and pop music during the Tin Pan Alley era (born
1900 As of March 1 ( O.S. February 17), when the Julian calendar acknowledged a leap day and the Gregorian calendar did not, the Julian calendar fell one day further behind, bringing the difference to 13 days until February 28 ( O.S. February 15), 2 ...
). ; May * 16 –
Django Reinhardt Jean Reinhardt (23 January 1910 – 16 May 1953), known by his Romani nickname Django ( or ), was a Romani-French jazz guitarist and composer. He was one of the first major jazz talents to emerge in Europe and has been hailed as one of its most ...
, French virtuoso guitarist and composer (born
1910 Events January * January 13 – The first public radio broadcast takes place; live performances of the operas '' Cavalleria rusticana'' and ''Pagliacci'' are sent out over the airwaves, from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York C ...
). ; June * 3 –
Mike Mosiello Mike Mosiello (full name ''Michele Alphonso Mosiello'') (December 2, 1896 – June 3, 1953) was an Italian-born American trumpet player. Biography Mosiello was born in Frasso Telesino in Italy into a musical family. His father, Tobia Mosiello, ...
, Italian-born American trumpeter (born 1896). * 26 – Julius Foss, Danish composer, organist, and guitarist (born 1879). ; August * 19 –
Tiny Kahn Norman "Tiny" Kahn (1923 – August 19, 1953) was an American jazz drummer, arranger, and composer. He was born in New York, United States. Kahn began playing drums at age 15. He played with Boyd Raeburn (1948), Georgie Auld, Chubby Jackson, and ...
, American drummer, arranger, and composer (born
1923 Events January–February * January 9 – Lithuania begins the Klaipėda Revolt to annex the Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory). * January 11 – Despite strong British protests, troops from France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr area, t ...
). ; November * 21 –
Larry Shields Lawrence James Shields (September 13, 1893 - November 21, 1953) was an early American dixieland jazz clarinetist. He was a member of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, the first jazz band to record commercially. Background Shields was born int ...
, American clarinetist (born 1893). ; Unknown date * Jimmy "Jammin'" Smith, American trumpet player (born
1926 Events January * January 3 – Theodoros Pangalos declares himself dictator in Greece. * January 8 **Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud is crowned King of Hejaz. ** Crown Prince Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thuy ascends the throne, the last monarch of V ...
).


Births

; January * 1 –
Greg Carmichael Greg Carmichael (born 7 August 1953) is a British guitarist and co-founding member (along with Nick Webb) of contemporary jazz group Acoustic Alchemy. His primary instrument is the nylon-string acoustic guitar. He joined the band in 1985 as a par ...
, American guitarist,
Acoustic Alchemy Acoustic Alchemy is an English smooth jazz band formed in England in the early 1980s by Nick Webb and Simon James. 1981–1989: Early days Acoustic Alchemy was formed around the acoustic guitars of Simon James ( nylon string) and Nick Webb ( ...
. * 5 –
Paul Wertico Paul Wertico (born January 5, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American drummer. He gained recognition as a member of the Pat Metheny Group from 1983 until 2001, leaving the group to spend more time with his family and to pursue other musical int ...
, American drummer. * 6 –
Jon Eberson Jon Arild Eberson (born 6 January 1953) is a Norwegian jazz guitarist and composer, the son of jazz guitarist Leif Eberson (1925–1970), and the father of keyboardist Marte Maaland Eberson. He was a member of the bands Moose Loose (1973–77), ...
, Norwegian guitarist and composer. * 10 –
Mike Stern Mike Stern (born January 10, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist. After playing with Blood, Sweat & Tears, he worked with drummer Billy Cobham, then with trumpeter Miles Davis from 1981 to 1983 and again in 1985. He then began a solo career, re ...
, American guitarist. * 17 –
Jeff Berlin Jeffrey Arthur Berlin (born January 17, 1953) is an American jazz fusion bassist. He first came to prominence in the 1970s as a member of the band Bruford led by drummer Bill Bruford. Musical career Berlin was born on January 17, 1953, in Queen ...
, American bassist. * 20 –
Andrew Bisset Andrew Bisset (20 January 195314 April 2005) was an Australian author, music educator and singer, based in Canberra. Author Andrew Bisset wrote ''Black Roots White Flowers – A History of Jazz in Australia'' (11 November 1979), which trace ...
, Australian author, music educator, and singer (died
2005 File:2005 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico; the Funeral of Pope John Paul II is held in Vatican City; "Me at the zoo", the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube; Eris was discovered in ...
). * 27 –
Bob Mintzer Robert Alan Mintzer (born January 27, 1953) is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader. Early life Mintzer was born and raised in a Jewish family in New Rochelle, New York, on January 27, 1953. He attended the Inter ...
, American saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader. * 31 –
Big Time Sarah Sarah Streeter (January 31, 1953 – June 13, 2015), better known by her stage name Big Time Sarah, was an American blues singer. Biography She was born in Coldwater, Mississippi, and raised in Chicago, where she sang in gospel choirs in South ...
, American singer (died
2015 File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the Apri ...
). ; February * 2 –
Louis Sclavis Louis Sclavis (born 2 February 1953) is a French jazz musician. He performs on clarinet, bass clarinet, and soprano saxophone in a variety of contexts, including avant-garde jazz, free jazz, free improvisation and contemporary classical. Life ...
, French clarinetist, bass clarinetist, and soprano saxophonist. * 7 –
T. K. Blue T. K. Blue (also known as Talib Kibwe, born Eugene Rhynie, February 7, 1953)TK Blue Artist Profile
Motéma Mu ...
, American saxophonist. * 18 –
Erling Aksdal Erling Aksdal Jr. (born 18 February 1953 in Molde, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz pianist and composer, known from playing with the likes of Warne Marsh, Chet Baker, Herb Pomeroy, Bob Mover, Mick Goodrick, Ralph Moore, Lee Konitz, John Pål Inderber ...
, Norwegian pianist. * 24 –
Rob Burns Rob Burns (born Robert George Henry Burns, 24 February 1953), earlier also known as Robbie Burns, is an English-born New Zealand bass player, author and academic. Burns' career spans five decades, encompassing musical genres such as pop, rock, ...
, English-New Zealand bass guitarist, author, and academic. * 25 –
Reggie Lucas Reginald Grant Lucas (February 25, 1953 – May 19, 2018)2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...
). ; March * 1 – Gary Braith, French guitarist and composer. * 4 –
John Esposito John Louis Esposito (born May 19, 1940) is an Italian-American academic, professor of Middle Eastern and religious studies, and scholar of Islamic studies, who serves as Professor of Religion, International Affairs, and Islamic Studies at Geor ...
, American pianist. * 11 – Andy Dickens, English jazz trumpeter, singer, and bandleader. * 16 –
Kei Akagi is a Japanese American jazz pianist. In particular, he is known for his work with the Airto Moreira/ Flora Purim group and in Miles Davis's band in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was born in Japan, but lived in Cleveland, Ohio, for part o ...
, Japanese-American pianist. * 19 –
Michele Rosewoman Michele Rosewoman (born March 19, 1953) is an American jazz pianist who leads the big band New Yor-Uba. She has worked with Baikida Carroll, Julius Hemphill, Julian Priester, Oliver Lake, Billy Bang, Freddie Waits, Rufus Reid, Billy Hart, Re ...
, American pianist. * 21 –
Taborah Johnson Taborah Johnson, also known as Tabby Johnson, is a Canadian singer and actress. She is the sister of actor Clark Johnson and rock and jazz singer Molly Johnson. She began her career in the Toronto production of ''Hair'' as a teenager. She was su ...
, Canadian singer and actor. * 22 –
John Shifflett John M Shifflett (March 22, 1953 – April 27, 2017) was an American jazz musician, player of the double bass and also an arranger, composer, and educator, with his last teaching job at San Jose State University. Shifflett was born in Dubuque, I ...
, American bassist (died
2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...
). * 23 –
Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan (), is an American singer. Her career has spanned more than five decades, beginning in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. Known as the " Qu ...
, American singer-songwriter. * 27 –
Masayoshi Takanaka is a Japanese guitarist, composer, and producer. He was born in 1953 in the Shinagawa ward in Tokyo, Japan. Takanaka's music was influential in the city pop genre of the late 1970s and '80s. Early life Takanaka was born to a Chinese fathe ...
, Japanese guitarist. * 29 –
Jørgen Emborg Jørgen Emborg (born 29 March 1953) is a Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmar ...
, Danish pianist. ; April * 1 –
Randy Crouch Randy Crouch (born April 1, 1952) is an Oklahoma-based multi-instrumentalist. In eastern Oklahoma, Crouch is best known as a fiddle player.Glenn, EddiFiddlin' Folk ''Talequah Daily Press'', June 25, 2007. Retrieved January 8, 2009. Although he ...
, American fiddle player and multi-instrumentalist. * 2 **
Dick Oatts Richard Dennis Oatts (born April 2, 1953) is an American jazz saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator. Biography While growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, Oatts gained an interest in music from his father, Jack Oatts, who was a sa ...
, American saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator. * 13 **
Charles Foster Johnson Charles Foster Johnson (born April 13, 1953) is an American blogger, software developer, and former jazz guitarist. He has played on 30 albums, sometimes credited as Icarus Johnson. He blogs on Little Green Footballs. Biography Johnson was born ...
, American blogger, software developer, and guitarist. **
Grant Geissman Grant Geissman (born April 13, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist and Emmy Award, Emmy-nominated composer. He has recorded extensively for several Record label, labels since 1976 and played guitar on the theme for ''Monk (TV series), Monk'' and ...
, American guitarist and composer. **
Tom Olstad Tom Olstad (born 13 April 1953 in Gjøvik, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz drummer who has performed on many recordings. Career Olstad has lived in Oslo since 1973, when he started his musical studies at Østlandets Musikkonservatorium and Univ ...
, Norwegian drummer. * 16 –
Kurt Maloo Kurt Maloo (born Kurt Meier, April 16, 1953, in Zurich, Switzerland) is a Swiss singer-songwriter, composer, and record producer. He first achieved international success in 1986, as the singer and front man of the group Double (band), Double wit ...
, Swiss singer-songwriter, composer and record producer. * 18 –
Danny Gottlieb Daniel Richard Gottlieb (born April 18, 1953) is an American drummer. He was a founding member of the Pat Metheny Group and was co-founder of Elements with Mark Egan. Biography Gottlieb was born in New York City on April 18, 1953. He took lesso ...
, American drummer,
Lt. Dan Band The Lt. Dan Band is an American cover band originally formed in Chicago in 2004 by Gary Sinise and Kimo Williams to perform at USO shows, entertain troops, and raise money for disabled veterans. The band is named after the character Lieutenant ...
and
Pat Metheny Group The Pat Metheny Group was an American jazz band founded in 1977. The core members of the group were guitarist, composer and bandleader Pat Metheny; and keyboardist and composer Lyle Mays, who was in the group at its inception. Other long-standing ...
. * 20 –
James Chance James Chance, also known as James White (born James Siegfried, April 20, 1953), is an American saxophonist, keyboard player, and singer. A key figure in no wave, Chance has been playing a combination of improvisational jazz-like music and pun ...
, American saxophonist, keyboard player, songwriter, and singer. * 24 – Trudy Silver, American pianist and composer. * 25 –
Per Kolstad Per Atle Kolstad (born 25 April 1953 in Norway) is a Norwegian musician (piano & keyboards), known from the band Lava, Jonas Fjeld Band and Prima Vera, and has numerous recordings as a studio musician. Career Kolstad has collaborated with si ...
, Norwegian pianist,
Lava Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a fracture in the crust, on land or un ...
. ; May * 1 **
James Newton James W. Newton (born May 1, 1953) is an American jazz and classical flutist. Biography He was born in Los Angeles, California, United States. From his earliest years, James Newton grew up immersed in the sounds of African-American music, inclu ...
, American flautist. ** Randy Halberstadt, American pianist, composer, recording artist, author, and teacher. * 2 –
James Chirillo James Louis Chirillo (born May 2, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist, banjoist, composer, arranger, and band leader. Career From 1977 to 1979, Chirillo performed regularly with singers Marilyn Maye, Vic Damone, Joey Heatherton, Lorna Luft, an ...
, American guitarist, banjoist, and composer. * 4 **
Michael Di Pasqua thumb , Michael Di Pasqua, at ''International New Jazz Festival Moers'' 1978 ( Moers Festival) Michael Di Pasqua (May 4, 1953 – August 29, 2016) was an American cool jazz drummer and percussionist born in Orlando, Florida, probably better ...
, American drummer and percussionist (died
2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses during the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh ...
). **
Oleta Adams Oleta Adams (born May 4, 1953) is an American singer and pianist. She found limited success during the early 1980s, before gaining fame via her contributions to Tears for Fears's international chart-topping album ''The Seeds of Love'' (1989). Her ...
, American singer and pianist. * 6 –
Paul Dunmall Paul Dunmall (born 6 May 1953) is a British jazz musician who plays tenor and soprano saxophone, as well as the baritone and the more exotic saxello and the Northumbrian smallpipes. He has played with Keith Tippett and Barry Guy. In the early ...
, British saxophonist. * 8 – Mike Miller, American guitarist. * 10 – Alex Foster, American saxophonist. * 12 –
Odd Riisnæs Odd Riisnæs (born 12 May 1953) is a Norwegian jazz musician (saxophone) and composer. He was born in Oslo, Norway, the son of pianist Eline Nygaard Riisnæs and the younger brother of jazz saxophonist Knut Riisnæs. He is known from a series of ...
, Norwegian saxophonist. * 21 –
Joanie Bartels Joan Constance Bartels (born May 21, 1953) is a retired American children's singer-songwriter, recording artist, and occasional actress based in New Zealand. Her 1985 album, ''Lullaby Magic'', was certified gold by the Recording Industry Assoc ...
, American singer. * 22 –
Jon Burr Jon Burr (born May 22, 1953, in Huntington, New York) is an American double bass player and author. He is a member of "Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing Trio", a swing jazz trio, along with Mark O'Connor and Frank Vignola. The trio has recorded three al ...
, American upright bassist and author. * 26 –
David Torn David M. Torn (born May 26, 1953) is an American guitarist, composer, and producer. He is known for combining electronic and acoustic instruments and for his use of looping. Background Torn has contributed to recordings by artists as diverse ...
, American guitarist, composer, and producer. ; June * 2 –
Vidar Johansen Vidar Johansen (born 17 December 1951) is a Norwegian former ice hockey player. He was born in Asker, Norway and represented the club Frisk Asker. He played for the Norwegian national ice hockey team at the 1980 Winter Olympics The 1980 Winter ...
, Norwegian saxophonist. * 9 –
Ken Navarro Ken Navarro (born June 9, 1963) is an American contemporary jazz guitarist. Career Navarro graduated from Claremont High School in 1984 at age 16, He worked as a studio musician in Los Angeles, performing with Dave Koz, Nell Carter, and Doc S ...
, Italian-American guitarist and composer * 26 –
Gary Valente Gary Valente (born June 26, 1953) is a jazz trombonist. Early life Valente was born on June 26, 1953, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He started playing the trombone as a young child, encouraged by his father, who played the same instrument. In the ...
, American trombonist ; July * 3 –
Bruce Kapler Bruce Kapler (born July 3, 1953) was a member of the CBS Orchestra on ''Late Show with David Letterman'' from 1993 to 2012. He sings and plays several instruments including soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass saxophone, flute, clarinet, record ...
, American saxophonist, singer and multi-instrumentalist,
CBS Orchestra Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band is an American musical ensemble led by Paul Shaffer. It was David Letterman's house band for 33 years. The band formed in 1982 to serve as house band for NBC's ''Late Night with David Letterman'' ...
. * 8 –
Ignacio Berroa Ignacio Berroa (born July 8, 1953 in Havana, Cuba) is a jazz drummer. In 1980 Ignacio left his country during the Mariel Boatlift, moved to New York and joined Dizzy Gillespie’s quartet in 1981, becoming the drummer of all the important band G ...
, Cuban drummer. * 10 – Attila László, Hungarian guitarist and composer. * 13 –
Sigurd Ulveseth Sigurd Ulveseth (born 13 July 1953) is a Norwegian jazz musician (Upright bass) and Orchestra leader, known from a number of album releases. Career Ulveseth was born in Bergen. With his own quartet, he has released three albums. The band cons ...
, Norwegian upright bassist. * 22 –
Jimmy Bruno Jimmy Bruno (born July 22, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist from Philadelphia. Biography Born in Philadelphia, Bruno started playing guitar at the age of 7. He began his professional career at the age of 19, touring with Buddy Rich. He played ...
, American guitarist. * 24 –
Jon Faddis Jon Faddis (born July 24, 1953) is an American jazz trumpet player, conductor, composer, and educator, renowned for both his playing and for his expertise in the field of music education. Upon his first appearance on the scene, he became known ...
, American trumpet player, conductor, composer, and educator. * 27 –
Edward Wilkerson Edward L. Wilkerson Jr. (born July 27, 1953 in Terre Haute, Indiana) is an internationally recognized American jazz composer, arranger, musician, and educator based in Chicago. As founder and director of the cutting-edge octet 8 Bold Souls, and th ...
, American composer, arranger, saxophonist, pianist, and clarinetist. ; August * 4 – Jeff Hamilton, American drummer, Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. * 10 – Jennifer Leitham or Lefty, American upright bassist. * 18 –
David Benoit David Bryan Benoit (born August 18, 1953) is an American jazz pianist, composer and producer, based in Los Angeles, California, United States. Benoit has charted over 25 albums since 1980, and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards. He is a ...
, American pianist, composer and producer. * 23 –
Bobby Watson Robert Michael Watson Jr. (born August 23, 1953), known professionally as Bobby Watson, is an American saxophonist, composer, and educator. Music career Watson was born in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. He ...
, American saxophonist, composer, and educator. * 28 – Michael Gregory, American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. ; September * 1 –
Don Blackman Don (Donald) Blackman (September 1, 1953 – April 11, 2013) was an American jazz-funk pianist, singer, and songwriter. He performed with Parliament-Funkadelic; Earth, Wind and Fire; Louis Hayes; and Nicolas Dietz. Biography Blackman was bor ...
, American pianist, singer, and songwriter (died
2013 File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fact ...
). * 2 –
John Zorn John Zorn (born September 2, 1953) is an American composer, conductor, saxophonist, arranger and producer who "deliberately resists category". Zorn's avant-garde and experimental approaches to composition and improvisation are inclusive of jaz ...
, American composer, arranger, producer, saxophonist, and multi-instrumentalist. * 10 – Craig S. Harris, American trombonist. * 11 –
Renée Geyer Renée Rebecca Geyer (born 11 September 1953) is an Australian singer who has long been regarded as one of the finest exponents of jazz, soul and R&B idioms. She had commercial success as a solo artist in Australia, with "It's a Man's Man's Worl ...
, Australian singer. * 14 –
Tom Cora Thomas Henry Corra (September 14, 1953 – April 9, 1998), better known as Tom Cora, was an American cellist and composer, best known for his improvisational performances in the field of experimental jazz and rock. He recorded with John Zorn, B ...
, American cellist and composer (died
1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The '' Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently ...
). * 16 –
Earl Klugh Earl Klugh ( ; born September 16, 1953) is an American acoustic guitarist and composer. He has won one Grammy award and thirteen nominations. Klugh was awarded the “1977” Best Recording Award For Performance and Sound” for his album “Fi ...
, American guitarist and composer. * 26 **
Dan Knight Daniel Lee Knight (born September 26, 1953, Ottumwa, Iowa), is a jazz pianist, composer, educator, and author. His early piano education was in the classical tradition; his first piano teacher, Mathilde Ehrmann Maither, was a former student of Ign ...
, American pianist, composer, educator, and author. **
Vic Juris Victor Edward Jurusz Jr. (September 26, 1953 – December 31, 2019), known professionally as Vic Juris, was an American jazz guitarist. Music career Juris was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, but he moved with his family to Parsippany early in ...
, American guitarist (died
2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...
). * 28 –
Keni Burke Kenneth M. "Keni" Burke (born September 28, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist who began his career with four siblings in the 1970s band the Five Stairsteps. Biography Five Stairsteps As a member ...
, American singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. ; October * 2 ** Alton "Big Al" Carson, American singer. **
Stein Erik Tafjord Stein Erik Tafjord (born 2 November 1953 in Langevåg, Norway) is a Norwegian jazz musician (tuba), and brother of the French horn player Runar Tafjord. He is most well known for being part of The Brazz Brothers. He was also one of the founders ...
, Norwegian tubist. * 7 –
Yoshiaki Miyanoue Yoshiaki Miyanoue (born October 7, 1953 in Tokyo, Japan) is a jazz guitarist. Like Wes Montgomery, who exercised strong influence on Miyanoue, he plucks the strings with his thumb, not using a pick. He worked with organist Jimmy Smith, Dr. Lonnie ...
, Japanese guitarist. * 14 –
Kazumi Watanabe is a Japanese guitarist. Other guitarists such as Luke Takamura and Sugizo have cited him as an influence. Career Watanabe learned guitar at the age of 12 from Sadanori Nakamure at the Yamaha Music School in Tokyo. He released his first album ...
, Japanese guitarist. * 17 –
Joseph Bowie Joseph Bowie (born October 17, 1953) is an American jazz trombonist and vocalist. The brother of trumpeter Lester Bowie, Joseph is known for leading the jazz-punk group Defunkt and for membership in the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. Career Bowi ...
, American trombonist. * 21 –
Marc Johnson Marc Johnson may refer to: Musicians *Marc Johnson (musician) (born 1953), American jazz musician * Marc Johnson (rapper) (born 1979), Danish rapper known as Johnson *Marc Johnson, cello player with the Vermeer Quartet *Marc Johnson, member of the ...
American upright bassist. * 27 –
Robert Irving III Robert Irving III (born October 27, 1953) is an American pianist, composer, arranger and music educator. A native of Chicago, Irving was one of a group of young Chicago musicians that in the late '70s and early '80s formed the nucleus of Miles ...
, American pianist, composer, arranger and music educator. ; November * 2 –
Ernest Dawkins Ernest Dawkins (born 2 November 1953 in Chicago, Illinois, United States) is an American jazz saxophonist, principally active in free jazz and post-bop. Ernest Khabeer Dawkins was a neighbor of Anthony Braxton as a child. He played bass and dru ...
, American saxophonist,
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble Ethnic Heritage Ensemble is an American jazz ensemble founded in 1973 by percussionist Kahil El'Zabar. Its members have included Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, Joseph Bowie, Ernest Dawkins, Light Henry Huff, Edward Wilkerson, Hanah Jon Taylor, an ...
. * 3 –
Azar Lawrence Azar Lawrence (born November 3, 1952) is an American jazz saxophonist, known for his contributions as sideman to McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, and Woody Shaw. Lawrence was the tenor saxophonist Tyner used following John Coltrane's ...
, American saxophonist. * 7 –
Erik Balke Erik Balke (born 7 November 1953) Store Norske Leksikon is a Norwegian jazz musician (saxophone), known as leader of the "Lille Frøen Saksofonkvartett" with Vidar Johansen, Arne Frang and Odd Riisnæs/Tore Brunborg/ Olav Dale, as member of hi ...
, Norwegian saxophonist. * 11 –
Kahil El'Zabar Kahil El'Zabar (born Clifton Blackburn; November 11, 1953) is an American jazz multi-instrumentalist (mainly a Percussion instrument, percussionist) and composer. He regularly records for Delmark Records. Life and work El'Zabar was born in Chica ...
, American percussionist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. * 13 **
Alex Coke Alexander Seton Coke (born November 13, 1953 in Dallas, Texas) is a jazz saxophonist and flutist. Early life Coke was born in Dallas on November 13, 1953. He started playing the flute at the age of eight. He graduated high school in Austin, Texas, ...
, American saxophonist and flutist. **
Dennis Taylor Dennis Taylor (born 19 January 1949) is a Northern Irish retired professional snooker player and current commentator. He is best known for winning the 1985 World Snooker Championship, where he defeated the defending champion Steve Davis in a ...
, American saxophonist and clarinetist (died
2010 File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...
). * 17 –
Federico Ramos Federico "Freddy" Ramos is a Uruguayan guitarist, arranger, producer and composer based in Santa Monica, California. He began his career playing with Eduardo Mateo and Uruguayan rock bands Psiglo and Dias de Blues. He is credited with incorporat ...
, Uruguayan guitarist, arranger, producer, and composer. * 18 –
Alan Murphy Alan Murphy (18 November 1953 – 19 October 1989) was a British rock session guitarist, best remembered for his collaborations with Kate Bush and Go West. In 1988, he joined the jazz-funk band Level 42 as a full-time band member, and played wi ...
, English guitarist (died
1989 File:1989 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Cypress Street Viaduct, Cypress structure collapses as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, killing motorists below; The proposal document for the World Wide Web is submitted; The Exxo ...
). * 27 –
Lyle Mays Lyle David Mays (November 27, 1953 – February 10, 2020) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and member of the Pat Metheny Group. Metheny and Mays composed and arranged nearly all of the group's music, for which Mays won eleven Grammy Awar ...
, American pianist and composer. ; December * 9 –
Jill Saward Jill Saward, also known by her married name Jill Drake (14 January 1965 – 5 January 2017) was an English campaigner on issues relating to sexual violence. She was the victim of a violent robbery and rape in 1986 at a vicarage in Ealing, Lond ...
, British singer, musician, and composer,
Shakatak Shakatak is an English jazz-funk band founded in 1980 by Nigel Wright and former Wigan Casino DJ Kev Roberts. Following an initial white label release 'Steppin', the band's name was derived from a record store in Soho, London Record Shack. I ...
. * 10 **
Diane Schuur Diane Joan Schuur (born December 10, 1953), nicknamed "Deedles", is an American jazz singer and pianist. As of 2015, Schuur had released 23 albums, and had extended her jazz repertoire to include essences of Latin, gospel, pop and country music ...
, American singer and pianist. **
Eugenio Colombo Eugenio Colombo (born 10 December 1953 in Rome, Italy) is an Italian saxophonist and flautist most associated with avant-garde jazz. A founding member of the Italian Instabile Orchestra, Colombo has worked with such musicians as Mario Schiano, Gi ...
, Italian saxophonist and flautist,
Italian Instabile Orchestra The Italian Instabile Orchestra (IIO) is an eighteen piece experimental big band that performs orchestral jazz and avant-garde jazz. Its members include Alberto Mandarini, Bruno Tommaso, Carlo Actis Dato, Daniele Cavallanti, Eugenio Colombo, Gia ...
. * 17 **
Ikue Mori (born 17 December 1953), also known as Ikue Ile, is a drummer, electronic musician, composer, and graphic designer. Mori was awarded a "Genius grant" from the MacArthur Foundation in 2022. Biography Ikue Mori was born and raised in Japan. She sa ...
, American drummer, composer, and graphic designer. **
John Doheny John Steven "Pip" Doheny (born December 17, 1953), is a jazz tenor saxophonist and band leader, who also plays flute, clarinet, and alto saxophone. Born in Seattle, Washington, Doheny studied with prominent Canadian saxophonist and bandleader Fras ...
, American tenor saxophonist and band leader. * 25 –
Steve Barta Steve Barta (born December 25, 1953) is an American Brazilian jazz pianist, author, educator, composer, arranger, producer. Steve has performed and recorded with Al Jarreau, Hubert Laws, Herbie Mann, Dori Caymmi, B.B. King Riley B. King (Septe ...
, American-Brazilian jazz pianist. * 28 – Gilberto "Pulpo" Colón Jr., American pianist, composer, arranger, producer, and band leader. ; Unknown date *
Darol Anger Darol Anger is an American violinist and founding member of The David Grisman Quintet. Career Darol Anger entered popular music at the age of 21 as a founding member of The David Grisman Quintet. Anger played fiddle to David Grisman's mando ...
, American violinist. *
Hilario Durán Hilario Durán (born 1953, Havana) is a Cuban-Canadian jazz pianist. Durán studied at ''Conservatorio "Amadeo Roldán"'' Amadeo Roldan Music Institute in Havana, studying tumbao with Evaristo Aparicio, composition and conducting from German P ...
, Cuban pianist. *
John Molo John Molo (born December 5, 1953, Bethesda, Maryland) is an American rock and jazz drummer and percussionist. He has played with a variety of bands, combos, and soloists. Best known for being the drummer for Bruce Hornsby and the Range, he has a ...
, American drummer and percussionist, *
Kevin Toney Kevin Kraig Toney is an American jazz pianist and composer who was a member of The Blackbyrds. Biography A native of Detroit, he graduated from Cass Technical High School. In his teens he listened to the music of John Coltrane and Art Tatum. He at ...
, American pianist and composer. *
Paolo Rustichelli Paolo Rustichelli is an Italian-American pianist, composer, and producer, and the son of Oscar nominee Carlo Rustichelli. His music is eclectic but generally belongs in the genres smooth jazz, jazz rock, and progressive rock. Career Pioneering t ...
, Italian-American pianist, composer, and producer. * Suzanne Davis, American pianist.


See also

*
1950s in jazz By the end of the 1940s, the nervous energy and tension of bebop was replaced with a tendency towards calm and smoothness, with the sounds of cool jazz, which favoured long, linear melodic lines. It emerged in New York City, as a result of the m ...
*
List of years in jazz This page indexes the individual year in jazz pages. Each year is annotated with a significant event as a reference point. __NOTOC__ 2020s - 2010s - 2000s - 1990s - 1980s - 1970s - 1960s - 1950s - 1940s - 1930s - 1920s - 1910s - 1900s - Pre-1 ...
*
1953 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1953. Specific locations * 1953 in British music * 1953 in Norwegian music Specific genres * 1953 in country music * 1953 in jazz Events * February 6 – Contralto Kathlee ...


References


Bibliography

* * * * * * * *


External links


History Of Jazz Timeline: 1953
at
All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:1953 In Jazz
Jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
Jazz by year