1977 in jazz

• 1 – The 4th Vossajazz started in Vossavangen, Norway (April 1 – 3).^[1]

• 25 – The 5th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 25 – June 8).^[2]
• 27 – The 6th Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (May 27 – 30).^[3]

• 24 – The 24th Newport Jazz Festival started in Newport, Rhode Island (June 24 – July 4).^[4]

• 1 – The 11th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland (July 1 – 24).^[5]
• 15 – The 2nd North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands (July 15 – 17).^[6]

• 16 – The 20th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 16 – 18).

January

• 2 – Erroll Garner, American pianist and composer (born 1923).
• 22 – Maysa Matarazzo, Brazilian singer, composer, and actress (born 1936).

February

• 9 – Buddy Johnson, American pianist and bandleader (born 1915).
• Billy Taylor Jr., American upright bassist (born 1925).
• Julian Gould, American organist, pianist, and composer (born 1915).

March

• 23 – Bennie Green, American trombonist (born 1923).
• 27 – Benny Moten, American upright bassist (born 1916).

April

• 4 – Julius Watkins, American French hornist (born 1921).
• 7 – Moon Mullens, American trumpeter (born 1916).
• 21 – Joe Garland, American saxophonist, composer, and arranger, "In the Mood" (born 1903).

May

• 22 – Hampton Hawes, American pianist (born 1928).
• 30 – Paul Desmond, American alto saxophonist and composer (born 1924).

June

• 6 – Art Mardigan, American drummer (born 1923).

July

• 22 – Richie Kamuca, American jazz tenor saxophonist (born 1930).
• 27 – Milt Buckner, American jazz pianist and organist (born 1915).

September

• 3 – Paloma Efron, Argentine singer (born 1912).
• 5 – George Barnes, American guitarist (born 1921).

October

• 16 – Milt Raskin, American pianist (born 1916).

November

• 18 – Teddi King, American vocalist (born 1929).
• 19 – Sonny Criss, American alto saxophonist (born 1927).

December

• 5 – Rahsaan Roland Kirk, American saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist (born 1935).
• 27 – Sam Brown, American guitarist (born 1939).

Unknown date

• J. C. Moses, American drummer (born 1936).

January

• 8 – Torun Eriksen, Norwegian singer.
• 10 – Rhian Benson, Ghanaian-British singer and songwriter.
• 13 – Elliot Mason, English trombonist.
• 28 – Sissel Vera Pettersen, Norwegian singer, saxophonist, and composer.
• 31 – Per Zanussi, Italians–Norwegian upright bassist, composer, and band leader, Wibutee.

February

• 2 – Evelina De Lain, Ukrainian-English pianist, composer, and arranger.
• 10 – Shahin Novrasli, Azerbaijani pianist.

March

• 4
  • Jason Marsalis, American drummer, vibraphonist, and composer.
  • Dan Weiss, American drummer and composer.
• 6 – Kirsti Huke, Norwegian singer and composer.
• 8 – Jef Neve, Belgian pianist and composer.
• 10 – Torstein Lofthus, Norwegian drummer and composer.
• 21 – Farnell Newton, American composer and trumpeter.
• 26 – Håvard Stubø, Norwegian guitarist.
• 30 – Tor Egil Kreken, Norwegian bass, banjo, and guitar player, Wibutee and Shining.

April

• 5 – Håkon Kornstad, Norwegian tenor saxophonist and operatic tenor.
• 21 – Andrea Veneziani, Italian upright bassist, composer, and arranger.
• 28 – Asbjørn Lerheim, Norwegian guitarist and music teacher.
• 30 – Ole Jørn Myklebust, Norwegian trumpeter, flugelhornist and vocalist.

May

• 10 – Jasper Høiby, Danish upright bassist, Phronesis.
• 11 – Nicolai Munch-Hansen, Danish bassist and composer (died 2017).
• 23 – Mads Berven, Norwegian guitarist.

June

• 8 – Frøy Aagre, Norwegian saxophonist.
• 9 – Atle Nymo, Norwegian saxophonist, Motif and Trondheim Jazz Orchestra.
• 11 – Ozan Musluoğlu, Turkish upright bassist and bass guitarist, Athena.
• 30 – Brynjar Rasmussen, Norwegian clarinetist.

July

• 4 – Sevda Alekbarzadeh, Azerbaijani female singer.
• 11 – Will Vinson, English alto saxophonist and composer, OWL Trio.

August

• 18 – Even Kruse Skatrud, Norwegian trombonist, Funky Butt.
• 27 – Quincy Davis, American drummer.

September

• 1 – Sinne Eeg, Danish singer.
• 13 – Julius Lind, Norwegian upright bassist.
• 20
  • Dan Cray, American pianist.
  • Martin Horntveth, Norwegian drummer, composer and electronica artist, Jaga Jazzist.

October

• 2 – David Wallumrød, Norwegian pianist and organist, Needlepoint.
• 6 – Matthew Bourne, British pianist and cellist.

November

• 1 – Anine Kruse, Norwegian singer and choral conductor, Pitsj.
• 3 – Jane Monheit, American singer.
• 5 – Ida Sand, Swedish singer and pianist.
• 20 – Florian Weber, German pianist and composer.

December

• 12 – Lage Lund, Norwegian guitarist.
• 23
  • Tore Johansen, Norwegian trumpeter and composer.
  • Verneri Pohjola, Finnish trumpeter.

Unknown date

• Andreas Haddeland, Norwegian guitarist.
• Giuliano Modarelli, Italian guitarist.
• Tomeka Reid, American cellist and improvisational musician.