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Warren, Butch

June 3, 2020 By Michael Fitzgerald Leave a Comment

Bassist. Edward Rudolph Warren, Jr. born August 9, 1939 in Washington, D.C.; died October 5, 2013 in Silver Spring, Maryland.

His father Eddie Warren was a pianist who played locally. Butch’s first musical experiences were with his father’s ensembles. Billy Taylor, Sr. encouraged him to play the bass and he studied with Joseph Willens of the National Symphony. He attended Coolidge High School and was graduated in 1956. He then attended Harbison Junior College in Irmo, South Carolina for two years.

Warren joined Kenny Dorham’s quintet in 1959 after serving as a last-minute replacement at Bohemian Caverns. He worked with Dorham at Turbo Village in Brooklyn into 1960, recording two albums and performing in New York and Canada. By early 1961 he had returned to Washington, playing regularly at Bohemian Caverns.

In 1961 he moved to New York City and was well received there. He recorded many notable albums for the Blue Note label with Sonny Clark, Dexter Gordon, Donald Byrd, Don Wilkerson, Herbie Hancock, Jackie McLean, Grant Green, Joe Henderson, and Stanley Turrentine. Additional sessions for Prestige and Impulse.

Warren toured Europe in autumn 1962 as a member of Slide Hampton’s octet. He then joined the Thelonious Monk quartet and toured Japan in 1963 and Europe in 1964. At this time Monk was at a high point in terms of public recognition, with a seven-month steady engagement at the Five Spot in New York City, a prestigious contract with Columbia Records, a concert at Philharmonic Hall with a large ensemble, and a cover story from Time magazine.

In the spring of 1964, Warren left Monk and returned to Washington. He succeeded Norman Williams as bassist in the Blues Alley house band. He was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic and was hospitalized for a year. From the 1970s on he performed only occasionally, working various non-musical jobs.

In 2006 he was rediscovered in a psychiatric institution, and in 2008 he returned to music. He played regularly at Columbia Station with Peter Edelman and in 2010 toured France, where made his first recording as a leader.


Bibliography

7756 ButchWarren items 1 chicago-fullnote-bibliography author asc https://jazzmf.com/wp/wp-content/plugins/zotpress/
Fisher, Marc. “Decades of Discord Lie Between a Man and His Music.” Washington Post, May 21, 2006.
Fisher, Marc. “Edward ‘Butch’ Warren, Washington-Born Bassist, Dies at 74.” Washington Post, October 7, 2013.
Keepnews, Peter. “Butch Warren, 74, Prominent Jazz Bassist, Dies.” The New York Times, October 25, 2013.
Pagones, John. “Jazz in Decline Is a Sad Story.” Washington Post. January 24, 1965.
Russonello, Giovanni. “Obituary: Butch Warren, Powerful Bassist on Classic Recordings, Dies at 74; Cast Long Shadow over D.C.” CapitalBop, October 10, 2013. https://www.capitalbop.com/obituary-butch-warren-powerful-bassist-on-classic-recordings-dies-at-74-cast-long-shadow-over-d-c/.
Russonello, Giovanni. “Butch Warren: To Hell & Back.” JazzTimes, April 17, 2012. https://jazztimes.com/features/profiles/butch-warren-to-hell-back/.
West, Michael J. “Bassist Butch Warren, a D.C. Jazz Great, Has Died.” Washington City Paper, October 7, 2013. https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/music/blog/13079844/rip-butch-warren-d-c-jazz-great.

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