Butch Warren

Born: August 9, 1939 in Georgetown, Washington, DC
Died: October 5, 2013 in Silver Spring, Maryland
American jazz bassist originally from Washington, DC, who moved to New York circa 1960 becoming a somewhat prominent session bassist for Blue Note Records and various bandleaders, most notably as part of Thelonious Monk’s working quartet from 1963 into early 1964. Butch left Monk and New York, returning to Washington, DC, where he intermittently recorded and performed, drifting in and out of musical activities while suffering many tragedies and personal problems, including aspects of mental illness and addiction. Despite all the personal issues he never lost his signature style and sound and inspired many young players in the area. After a long period of being unhoused and without an instrument to play, in the last few years of his life he eventually found supporters who helped him stabilize his living situation, acquire a bass, reengage with the local DC music scene, beginning a productive period of writing music, touring and recording in France, and in addition to club dates performing special programs in the Washington/Baltimore areas, including collaborative performances and recordings with Freddie Redd (who he had not played with in his New York days). This culminated in being celebrated as a special honored guest performer of Matt Wilson’s at the Kennedy Center and in Butch’s final performance at a birthday celebration which he left hospice to attend shortly before passing away from cancer.