1902 in jazz

• Jelly Roll Morton start to get attention in the New Orleans scene, at the age of 17 years, as a brothel piano player. He primarily plays Ragtime and a little Blues at this point. He is one of the first to play this mix that is a forerunner of Jazz. He later claimed to have invented Jazz in this year by combining Ragtime, Quadrilles and Blues.{{cite web | url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/timeline_year.php?pg=8 | title=History Of Jazz Timeline: 1902 | publisher=All About Jazz | accessdate=2018-01-05}}

{{see also|List of pre-1920 jazz standards#1900–1909}}

; January

• 3 – Preston Jackson, American trombonist (died 1983).
• 9 – Mel Stitzel, German-American pianist, New Orleans Rhythm Kings (died 1952).
• 13 – Putney Dandridge, African-American bandleader, jazz pianist and vocalist (died 1946).
• 23 – Benny Waters, American saxophonist and clarinetist (died 1998).

; February

• 6 – George Brunies, American trombonist (died 1974).

; March

• 11 – Chauncey Morehouse, American drummer (died 1980).
• 16 – Leon Roppolo, American clarinetist (died 1943).
• 30 – Ted Heath, English musician and big band leader (died 1969).

; April

• 6 – Rosy McHargue, American clarinetist (died 1999).
• 24 – Rube Bloom, Jewish-American songwriter, pianist, arranger, band leader, singer, and author (died 1976).

; June

• 6 – Jimmie Lunceford, American alto saxophonist and bandleader (died 1947).
• 7 – Ed Cuffee, American trombonist (died 1959).
• 17 – Chris Columbus, American drummer (died 2002).
• 26 – Artemi Ayvazyan, Soviet-Armenian composer, conductor, and founder of the Armenian State Jazz Orchestra (died 1975).
• 27 – Georg Malmstén, Finnish singer, musician, composer, orchestra conductor, and actor (died 1981).

; July

• 4 – Erik Tuxen, Danish big band leader, composer, and arranger (died 1957).
• 7 – Jim McCartney, English trumpeter and pianist (died 1976).
• 19
• Buster Bailey, American clarinet, but also well versed on saxophone (died 1967).
• Cliff Jackson, American stride pianist (died 1970).
• 21 – Omer Simeon, American clarinetist and reedist (died 1959).

; August

• 21 – Lloyd Scott, American drummer and bandleader (died unknown date).

; September

• 17 – Louis Nelson, American trombonist (died 1990).{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1857274-Louis-Nelson-2 | title=Louis Nelson | publisher=Discogs.com | accessdate=2018-01-05}}

; October

• 12 – Jimmy Archey, American trombonist (died 1967).
• 24 – Louis Barbarin, American drummer (died 1997).
• 25 – Eddie Lang, American guitarist (died 1933).

; November

• 29 – Danny Alvin, American drummer and bandleader (died 1958).

; December

• 7 – Cecil Irwin, American reedist and arranger (died 1935).{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/2116533-Cecil-Irwin | title=Cecil Irwin | publisher=Discogs.com | accessdate=2018-01-05}}

; Unknown date

• Barney Josephson, founder of Café Society in Greenwich Village (died 1988).
• Shirley Clay, American trumpeter (died 1951).

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/timeline_year.php?pg=8 History Of Jazz Timeline: 1902] at All About Jazz

{{Jazz}}

Jazz, 1902 In

Category:Jazz by year