Curt Warren

Curt has taught a generation of musicians and entertained audiences around the world. I recently caught up with him at Dominic’s Italian Restaurant performing with his group, New Impressions. He sits on a stool in a casual pose playing his guitar while sharing the stage with drummer Ricky Malichi and bassist Eric Unsworth. His fingers appear effortless as they meticulously pluck out the harmonic notes creating the melodies of America's jazz standards. These nostalgic tunes are familiar but oftentimes the song titles are forgotten. Curt, in a conversational manner, reminds the audience of their names such as “Autumn Leaves” or “Sweet Georgia Brown” or “How Long Has This Been Going On”.

He sometimes dons a Hawaiian shirt typifying his easy going personality and relaxed posture. This night he’s wearing one of tropical plants against a soft blue sky, most likely reminiscent of his past when he was stationed in Oahu. If you engage him in conversation between sets, he’s likely to speak about the idea of retiring from teaching and living on an island but then hesitates and wonders about the unlikely opportunities for jazz gigs. I can’t imagine Curt living out the rest of his life without live jazz performances nor can he. He laughs from the thought of it. Then he excuses himself and returns to the stage doing what he was put on this earth to do, to play jazz.

Curt’s flawless talent looks easy from a lifetime dedicated to music. It began early in his life. His Uncle Stan Daughtry taught him how to play guitar. Stan Daughtry played with a jazz trio in Conrad Hilton’s first Hilton Hotel (known today as the Plaza Hotel) which was built in downtown El Paso in 1930. Uncle Stan, assured of Curt’s abilities as a jazz guitarist, helped land Curt’s first professional job in Las Vegas. There he performed with Frankie Laine at the Dunes. At that time Curt was only nineteen, too young to hang-out in the gambling halls between shows, so he spent his idle hours peeking out from behind stage at the other top name jazz entertainers in Vegas. From then on, he was hooked on jazz.

In 1964, he returned to El Paso and went “on the road” with Clyde McCoy playing Dixieland. Soon after, he was called up for active duty as an army reservist and was sent to Hawaii where he experienced the tropical island lifestyle. After his commitment with the army, he returned to El Paso In 1972. That was when he performed with the house band at a hotel once called the Sheraton on Mesa Street. There he shared the stage with known entertainers such as Della Reese, Billy Eckstein, and others. Around that time, he performed with Brenda Lee at the La Fiesta in Juarez and with Herb Ellis at El Paso’s Senor Blues Jazz Club.

Two years later from 1974-1978, Curt joined up with the United States Navy Band touring world-wide. He was the featured soloist at the Newport Jazz Festival, the Midwest Band Convention in Chicago, and the National Association of Jazz Educators in Dallas.

After touring with the Navy Band, he was back at Ft. Bliss in El Paso with the local army band. That was when he accompanied world-class jazz great trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. Curt laughs when he says, “Maynard received $10,000.00 and I received $35.00 for the same gig.” Then he adds, “But the experience to play with Maynard Ferguson sure was worth it!”

Throughout his career, he recorded with internationally acclaimed artists such as Marian McPartland, Bob James, Frank Foster (who took over the Count Basie Orchestra), and others.

Today, he performs and records in El Paso, Las Cruces, and beyond while maintaining a position at the University of Texas at El Paso as a guitar teacher and an improvisation instructor in addition to conducting a Fine Arts class titled Jazz to Rock History.

Just in case Curt decides to move back to the island, I’m enjoying every opportunity to catch him perform those beautiful jazz standards with the skill and finesse of a master musician. Curt, you truly are an El Paso treasure! The jazz community thanks you for bringing your experiences to our stage and sharing your talent while educating others!

To find out where he’s playing, browse our calendar for his trio, New Impressions, featuring him on guitar along with Ricky Malichi on drums and Eric Unsworth on bass.