This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 2012.
Events
January
25 – The very first Bodø Jazz Open started in Bodø, Norway (January 25–28).
February
3
April 30 is designated as International Jazz Day to celebrate Jazz music as a rich cultural heritage, a product of cultural collaboration and a universal language of tolerance and freedom, unanimously by the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The 14th Polarjazz Festival started in Longyearbyen, Svalbard (February 1–5). 7 – The 7th Ice Music Festival started in Geilo, Norway (February 7 – 10).
March
2 – The 8th Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival started in Jakarta, Indonesia (March 2–4). 30 – The 39th Vossajazz started in Voss, Norway (March 30 - April 2). 31 Sigrid Moldestad was awarded Vossajazzprisen 2012. Karl Seglem performs the commissioned work Som Spor at Vossajazz.
April
25 – The 18th SoddJazz started in Inderøy, Norway (April 25–29). 27 – The 1st Torino Jazz Festival started in Turin (April 27 – May 1). 30 – The International Jazz Day.
May
5 – The Norwegian trumpeter Mathias Eick Quintet was recipient of the 2012 BMW Welt Jazz Award in Germany. 23 – The 40th Nattjazz started in Bergen, Norway (May 23 – June 2) 25 – The 41st Moers Festival started in Moers, Germany (May 25 – 28).
June
17 – The 24th Jazz Fest Wien started in Vienna, Austria (June 17 – July 9). 28 – The 32nd Montreal International Jazz Festival started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (June 28 - July 7). 29 – The 46th Montreux Jazz Festival started in Montreux, Switzerland (June 29 – July 14).
July
4 – The 48th Kongsberg Jazzfestival started at Kongsberg, Norway (July 4–7). 6 The 37th North Sea Jazz Festival started in The Hague, Netherlands (July 6 – 8). The 34th Copenhagen Jazz Festival started in Copenhagen, Denmark (July 6 – 15). 7 – Ola Kvernberg was recipient of the Kongsberg Jazz Award (DNB.prisen) 2012 at the Kongsberg Jazzfestival. 8 – The 65th Nice Jazz Festival started in Nice, France (July 8 – 12). 14 – The 47th Pori Jazz Festival started in Pori, Finland (July 14 – 21). 16 – The 52nd Moldejazz started in Molde, Norway with Jon Balke as artist in residence (July 16–21). 17 Mopti was awarded the JazzIntro 2012 at Moldejazz. Anja Eline Skybakmoen was awarded the Jazztalent 2012 at Moldejazz. Albatrosh was awarded the JazZtipendiat 2012 at Moldejazz. 19 – The 47th San Sebastian Jazz Festival started in San Sebastian, Spain (July 19 – 23).
August
3 – The 56th Newport Jazz Festival started in Newport, Rhode Island (August 3 – 5). 8 – The 26th Sildajazz started in Haugesund, Norway (August 8–12). 10 Marte Eberson was awarded the Sildajazzprisen 2012. The 28th Brecon Jazz Festival started in Brecon, Wales (August 10 – 12). 13 The 27th Oslo Jazzfestival started in Oslo, Norway (August 13–18). Bugge Wesseltoft was recipient of the Ella-prisen 2012 at the Oslo Jazzfestival.
September
3 – The 8th Punktfestivalen started in Kristiansand, Norway (September 3 – 5). 16 – The 55th Monterey Jazz Festival started in Monterey, California (September 16 – 18).
October
1 – The 29th Stockholm Jazz Festival started in Sweden (October 1 – 7).
November
9 – 21st London Jazz Festival started in London, England (November 9 – 18). November 19 - New jazz band GoGo Penguin is formed and releases their debut album
December
Album released
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Unknown date
#
A
Andrea Kvintett by Andrea Kvintett.
B
Mari Kvien Brunvoll by Mari Kvien Brunvoll.
W
Spinnaker by Winther - Storm.
Deaths
January
4 – Totti Bergh, Norwegian saxophonist (born 1935). 9 – Ernie Carson, American cornetist, pianist, and singer (born 1937). 18 – Keshav Sathe, Indian tabla player (born 1928). 20 Etta James, American singer (born 1938). John Levy, American upright-bassist (born 1912). 21 – Herbie Harper, American trombonist (born 1920). 26 – Clare Fischer, American keyboardist, composer, arranger, and bandleader (born 1928). 27 – Kay Davis, American singer (born 1920).