JAM: June/July 2002 Issue: Warren Durrett

WARREN DURRETT:
Perfectionist, Craftsman,
and a Jazz Lover Who Made a Difference

by John Leisenring

They came by the hundreds on March 30, 2002 –- The Kansas City Star reported around 300 -- and they participated in one of the classiest and most rewarding funeral celebrations in recent memory.

Longtime Kansas City bandleader Warren Durrett had passed on March 24 at age 81; I like to think that we sent him on ahead to scout up some gigs. Several great bands could have been mustered from the musicians in attendance.

The celebration included music that Durrett, always a stern critic, would have found most acceptable. A fine quartet led by saxophonist Doug Talley, a wonderful rendition of "Stardust," with Bill Caldwell on tenor sax and Tim Brewer on bass, and Durrett alum Pat Wilson singing "I Thought About You."

And when Marilyn Maye closed things with "Here's To Life" and the quartet rendered "Amazing Grace," well, the goose-bumps were universal.

Warren Durrett was a highly successful businessman and real estate developer, but it was as a bandleader for more than four decades that he was most visible. From 1945, when his newly formed ten-piece band played weekends high atop the Continental Hotel, until the farewell performance with his 25-piece orchestra at the Adam's Mark Hotel in 1986, Warren's bands represented the best that the big band industry could provide.

Durrett's music was consistently of the highest craftsmanship and musicality. I was a regular member of the trombone section from 1971 until his retirement, and being there was always satisfying, sometimes very exciting. There were special events, like backing John Park at one of the Kansas City Jazz Festivals, or accompanying Marilyn Maye on numerous occasions, or enjoying the years as "The Music Of Your Life Orchestra," providing high class dance music for the area's best ballroom dancers.

Warren was not always well liked by his bandsmen. He paid, without exception, minimum scale wages, saying that he didn't need to pay more to get the best musicians. And he didn't. He wouldn't pay postage; checks had to be picked up at the Musicians Union office. When lead trombonist Arch Martin moved to Brookfield, MO, and pleaded that Warren mail checks to his home, the 25 cent stamp was deducted from his check. Or at least that's how I remember the story. I never did know if vocalist Pat Wilson, who, for a time, commuted from Columbus, Ohio for each job, had her checks garnished as well.

Warren was an unwavering perfectionist, a trait not always appreciated by the rank and file. If one was caught with his coat unbuttoned, or breathing in the wrong place in the music, or, God forbid, misplaying a figure or not listening as well as was expected, THE STARE was the reward. And it was a bit chilling. And humbling. He could hear around corners, and demanded on-stage deportment second to none. Which is why his bands always sounded so good.

For his bandsmen respected him without exception. In no other band was it as much fun, and as big a challenge. There was simply no place to hide. And what a great book! Thank you, John Pope. Thank you, Warren.

After his retirement, Durrett continued to support the music that he loved, donating money to various jazz education projects -- most notably at his alma mater, UMKC -- and promoting and producing CDs by many of the musicians he felt most worthy.

Always the perfectionist, it was unusual, and therefore most pleasing, to receive a complimentary remark. In my more than forty years of professional playing, I have my few cherished compliments, and one came from Warren. After a concert -- I don't remember the date or the place or with whom I was playing -- he came backstage and, almost shyly and without smile or handshake, said, "You played your ass off tonight." And then he was gone. I treasure that; from him, it was sublime.

God speed, Warren Durrett.

We will remember, always.

An Enormous Impact

Saxophonist Ed Dix was a member of Warren Durrett's band from the beginning. Here are some excerpts from the eulogy he delivered on March 30, 2002.

...Those of us who were privileged to know him... came to appreciate his many diverse talents and what a truly remarkable person he really was. That was borne out in a letter he wrote in 1980. He said: "I was guest speaker last night at a dinner party of about ten middle-aged couples at one of their houses. I talked about futures trading, European banks, monetary conferences, tennis, the jingle business, arranging for big band, land investment, land development, running a big band, and recording an album... all with a suitcase full of exhibits. In other words, everything I know." And we might add that he was an expert in all of those areas.

But it was in the music -- jazz in particular -- that Warren seemed to find his greatest enjoyment. He considered the hundreds of musicians, singers and all of us associated in any way with his bands as "family." And he took great delight in following the careers and lives of every one of us. His letters are full of references to so many of you who are here today. His sincere concerns for our ups and downs, his kind attention and generosity is known and shared by us all in so many ways. It was because of him that so many of us first met and formed such close personal friendships. After his retirement, his focus shifted to ways that he could help advance the state of jazz music by producing albums for many here today, sponsoring concerts, and by many kind and sensitive acts of personal advice and financial support.

Warren has had an enormous impact on our lives. His courage, generosity, creativity, and his example will not soon be forgotten and will live on in our memory.