Butch Warren

Edward Rudolph "Butch" Warren Jr. (August 9, 1939 – October 5, 2013) was an American jazz bassist who was active during the 1950s and 1960s.

Biography Warren's mother was a typist at the CIA. His father, Edward Sr., was an electronics technician who played piano and organ part-time in clubs in Washington, D.C; his uncle, Quentin — actually the same age as Butch — played guitar. The Warren home was often visited by jazz musicians Billy Hart, Jimmy Smith, and Stuff Smith. The first time Butch Warren played bass was at home on an instrument left by Billy Taylor, who had played bass for Duke Ellington. Warren cited Jimmy Blanton, the innovative and virtuoso bassist with Ellington from 1939 to 1941, as his biggest inspiration.

Warren began playing professionally at age 14 in a Washington, D.C. band led by his father. He later worked with other local groups, including that of Stuff Smith, as well as with altoist and bandleader Rick Henderson at the Howard Theatre.

When he was 19, he sat in with Kenny Dorham to substitute for an absent bassist. A few days later, Dorham invited him to New York City, where he spent the next six months as a sideman at a club in Brooklyn.

Following the onset of his illness he played professionally only occasionally, including a regular gig at the jazz club Columbia Station in Washington D.C.

His only solo effort was captured on "Butch's Blues" but he was better known as a sideman on many albums, including Dexter Gordon's Go.

He died of lung cancer in Silver Spring, Maryland at the age of 74.

Discography As leader 2011: Butch Warren French Quintet - with Pierrick Menuau (saxophone), Pierre Christophe (piano), Mourad Benhammou (drums) and Jean Philippe Bordier (guitar) 2021: Butch Warren & Freddie Redd: Baltimore Jazz Loft- with Matt Wilson (drums) and Brad Linde (tenor saxophone) Bleebop Records (recorded 2013)

As sideman With Donald Byrd 1961: Royal Flush 1961: Free Form 1963: A New Perspective

With Kenny Dorham 1960: The Kenny Dorham Memorial Album 1960: Jazz Contemporary 1963: Una Mas

With Dexter Gordon 1962: Go 1962: A Swingin' Affair

With Jackie McLean 1959: Vertigo 1961: A Fickle Sonance 1962: Tippin' the Scales 1967: Hipnosis

With Hank Mobley 1963: No Room for Squares 1963: The Turnaround 1963: Straight No Filter

With Thelonious Monk 1963: Miles & Monk at Newport 1963: Big Band and Quartet in Concert 1963: Monk in Tokyo 1964: It's Monk's Time

With others 1961: Leapin' and Lopin' – Sonny Clark 1961: High Hope! – Elmo Hope 1962: Takin' Off – Herbie Hancock 1962: Preach Brother! – Don Wilkerson 1962: Jubilee Shout!!! – Stanley Turrentine 1962: Feelin' the Spirit – Grant Green 1962: Exodus – Slide Hampton 1963: Happy Frame of Mind – Horace Parlan 1963: Exultation! – Booker Ervin 1963: Page One – Joe Henderson 1964: Holiday Soul – Bobby Timmons 1965: The Walter Bishop Jr. Trio / 1965 – Walter Bishop, Jr.