This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 1953.
- The musical Porgy and Bess was revived, playing in many European cities.
Larry Shields c. 1915
- April
- 23 – Peter DeRose, American Hall of Fame composer of jazz and pop music during the Tin Pan Alley era (born 1900).
- May
- June
- 3 – Mike Mosiello, Italian-born American trumpeter (born 1896).
- 26 – Julius Foss, Danish composer, organist, and guitarist (born 1879).
- August
- 19 – Tiny Kahn, American drummer, arranger, and composer (born 1923).
- November
- Unknown date
Mike Stern at Jazz Alley, 2007.
Chaka Khan 2006.
James Chance 2010.
David Torn 2008.
Jennifer Leitham 2012.
- January
- 1 – Greg Carmichael, American guitarist, Acoustic Alchemy.
- 5 – Paul Wertico, American drummer.
- 6 – Jon Eberson, Norwegian guitarist and composer.
- 10 – Mike Stern, American guitarist.
- 17 – Jeff Berlin, American bassist.
- 20 – Andrew Bisset, Australian author, music educator, and singer (died 2005).
- 27 – Bob Mintzer, American saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader.
- 31 – Big Time Sarah, American singer (died 2015).
- February
- March
- 1 – Gary Braith, French guitarist and composer.
- 4 – John Esposito, American pianist.
- 11 – Andy Dickens, English jazz trumpeter, singer, and bandleader.
- 16 – Kei Akagi, Japanese-American pianist.
- 19 – Michele Rosewoman, American pianist.
- 21 – Taborah Johnson, Canadian singer and actor.
- 22 – John Shifflett, American bassist (died 2017).[1]
- 23 – Chaka Khan, American singer-songwriter.
- 27 – Masayoshi Takanaka, Japanese guitarist.
- 29 – Jørgen Emborg, Danish pianist.
- April
- 1 – Randy Crouch, American fiddle player and multi-instrumentalist.
- 2
- Dick Oatts, American saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator.
- 13
- 16 – Kurt Maloo, Swiss singer-songwriter, composer and record producer.
- 18 – Danny Gottlieb, American drummer, Lt. Dan Band and Pat Metheny Group.
- 20 – James Chance, American saxophonist, keyboard player, songwriter, and singer.
- 24 – Trudy Silver, American pianist and composer.
- 25 – Per Kolstad, Norwegian pianist, Lava.
- May
- 1
- 2 – James Chirillo, American guitarist, banjoist, and composer.
- 4
- 6 – Paul Dunmall, British saxophonist.
- 8 – Mike Miller, American guitarist.
- 10 – Alex Foster, American saxophonist.
- 12 – Odd Riisnæs, Norwegian saxophonist.
- 21 – Joanie Bartels, American singer.
- 22 – Jon Burr, American upright bassist and author.
- 26 – David Torn, American guitarist, composer, and producer.
- June
- July
- 3 – Bruce Kapler, American saxophonist, singer and multi-instrumentalist, CBS Orchestra.
- 8 – Ignacio Berroa, Cuban drummer.
- 10 – Attila László, Hungarian guitarist and composer.
- 13 – Sigurd Ulveseth, Norwegian upright bassist.
- 22 – Jimmy Bruno, American guitarist.
- 24 – Jon Faddis, American trumpet player, conductor, composer, and educator.
- 27 – Edward Wilkerson, 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, American pianist, composer and producer.
- 23 – Bobby Watson, American saxophonist, composer, and educator.
- 28 – Michael Gregory, American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
- September
- 1 – Don Blackman, American pianist, singer, and songwriter (died 2013).
- 2 – John Zorn, American composer, arranger, producer, saxophonist, and multi-instrumentalist.
- 10 – Craig S. Harris, American trombonist.
- 11 – Renée Geyer, Australian singer (died 2023).
- 14 – Tom Cora, American cellist and composer (died 1998).
- 16 – Earl Klugh, American guitarist and composer.
- 26
- 28 – Keni Burke, American singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist.
- October
- November
- 2 – Ernest Dawkins, American saxophonist, Ethnic Heritage Ensemble.
- 3 – Azar Lawrence, American saxophonist.
- 7 – Erik Balke, Norwegian saxophonist.
- 11 – Kahil El'Zabar, American percussionist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer.
- 13
- 17 – Federico Ramos, Uruguayan guitarist, arranger, producer, and composer.
- 18 – Alan Murphy, English guitarist (died 1989).
- 27 – Lyle Mays, American pianist and composer.
- December
- 5 – John Molo, American drummer and percussionist.
- 9 – Jill Saward, British singer, musician, and composer, Shakatak.
- 10
- 17
- Ikue Mori, American drummer, composer, and graphic designer.
- John Doheny, American tenor saxophonist and band leader.
- 25 – Steve Barta, American-Brazilian jazz pianist.
- 28 – Gilberto "Pulpo" Colón Jr., American pianist, composer, arranger, producer, and band leader.
- Unknown date