1931 in jazz

This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1931.^[1]

Events

6 â Bix Beiderbecke, American jazz cornetist, jazz pianist, and composer (born 1903).

1 â Rose Brennan, Irish singer.
2 â Frank Marocco, American piano-accordionist (died 2012).
3 â John Jenkins, American saxophonist (died 1993).
5
- Alfred Brendel, Austrian pianist, poet and author.
- Dizzy Reece, Jamaican trumpeter.
6 â Keith Christie, English trombonist (died 1980).
9 â Carson Smith, American upright bassist (died 1997).
12 â Roland Alphonso, Jamaican tenor saxophonist (died 1998).
14 â Caterina Valente, Italian singer, guitarist, dancer, and actress.
19 â Horace Parlan, American pianist and composer (died 2017).
20 â Hachidai Nakamura, Japanese songwriter and pianist (died 1992).
22 â Sam Cooke, American singer and songwriter (died 1964).
23 â Gianni Coscia, Italian accordionist.
30 â Gene Gammage, American drummer.

6 â John Pisano, American guitarist.
11
- Bobby Lamb, Irish trombonist.
- Lionel Batiste, American singer and drummer (died 2012).
12 â Walt Groller, American accordionist (died 2023).

4 â Sonya Hedenbratt, Swedish singer and actress (died 2001).
11 â Allan Ganley, English drummer (died 2008).
15
- D. J. Fontana, American drummer (died 2018).
- Theo Bophela, South African band leader, composer, pianist, arranger, and music educator (died 2017).
17 â Karel VelebnÃ½, Czech vibraphonist, pianist, and saxophonist (died 1989).
25 â Paul Motian, American drummer and percussionist (died 2011).

1 â Ira Sullivan, American trumpeter, flugelhornist, flautist, and saxophonist (died 2020).
2 â Richard Holmes, American organist (died 1991).
4
- Ed Cassidy, American drummer (died 2012).
- Richard Williams, American trumpeter (died 1985).
7 â Teresa Brewer, American singer (died 2007).
9 â Raymond Berthiaume, Canadian singer (died 2009).
11 â Freddie Roach, American Hammond B3 organist (died 1980).
14 â Alvin Lucier, American composer of experimental music and sound installations (died 2021).
16 â Walt Dickerson, American vibraphonist (died 2008).
17
- Dewey Redman, American saxophonist (died 2006).
- Jackie McLean, American alto saxophonist (died 2006).
20 â Louis Smith, American trumpeter (died 2016)
27 â Diz Disley, Anglo-Canadian guitarist (died 2010).^[3]
31 â Dick Garcia, American guitarist.

2 â Ronnie Bedford, American drummer (died 2014).
7 â Mike Pratt, English actor, musician, songwriter, and screenwriter (died 1976).
10 â JoÃ£o Gilberto, Brazilian singer, songwriter, and guitarist (died 2019).
13 â Georges Arvanitas, French pianist and organist (died 2005).
14 â Junior Walker, American saxophonist (died 1995).
17 â Dominic Frontiere, American composer, arranger, and accordionist (died 2017).
19 â Phil Bates, English upright bassist.
30 â Andrew Hill, American pianist and composer (died 2007).

6 â Della Reese, American singer (died 2017).
11 â Tab Hunter, American actor, singer, and author (died 2018).
13 â Long John Hunter, American guitarist, singer, and songwriter (died 2016).
21
- Plas Johnson, American tenor saxophonist.
- Sonny Clark, American pianist (died 1963).
26 â Patti Bown, American pianist and singer (died 2008).
31 â Kenny Burrell, American guitarist.

15 â Terry Pollard, American pianist and vibraphonist (died 2009).
17 â Derek Smith, British pianist (died 2016).
20
- Alain Goraguer, French pianist (died 2023).
- Frank Capp, American drummer (died 2017).

1
- Jimmy Lyons, American saxophonist (died 1986).
- Johnny RÄducanu, Romanian pianist (died 2011).
2 â Wynton Kelly, Jamaican-American pianist and composer (died 1971).
14 â Phineas Newborn Jr., American pianist (died 1989).
21 â David Baker, American symphonic jazz composer (died 2016).
24 â Ray Bryant, American pianist and composer (died 2011).
27 â Walter Norris, American pianist and composer (died 2011).