Warren, Butch [Edward
Rudolph] (Washington, 8 Sept 1939)
Double bass player
He started his career at the age of 14 in a band led by his
father, then played in and around Washington
with Gene Ammons and Stuff Smith (c. 1956-7). He
moved to New York to work with Kenny Dorham
(1958-60), and as a house musician at Blue Note Records recorded with Jackie
McLean (1961-2), Donald Byrd (1961, 1963), Herbie
Hancock and Stanley Turrentine (both 1962), and Joe
Henderson (1963). He also played in New York
clubs and recorded with Sonny Clark (1961-2) and Dexter Gordon (1962). He was
the regular double bass player in Thelonious Monk's
quartet in 1963-4, touring Europe and Japan
and making several recordings. After returning to the Washington
area he performed on a local television show (1965-6) and backed touring pop
groups such as the Platters (1966). Owing to illness he ceased to be active
during the late 1960s and early 1970s, but he resumed playing in the mid-1970s
- with Howard McGhee and Richie Cole (both 1975) - and
continued to perform part-time.
Warren's style
is notable for his ability to create swinging accompaniments, through a
combination of well-phrased quarter-note lines and nicely placed accents with
articulation marked by short decay. His solos, though limited in range, are
effective, using walking lines and short phrases based on the blues.
John Curry
The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, © Macmillan Reference Ltd
1988