Trumpeter/composer Kenny Warren grew up in Denver and has lived in NYC since 2006. He has made over a dozen records as a bandleader and solo artist, has performed all over the world, and was recognized by Downbeat Magazine as a Raising Star in 2025. In 2024 his trio Sweet World with cellist Christopher Hoffman and drummer Nathan Ellman-Bell released an LP on Out of Your Head Records which the Best of Bandcamp hailed as “the sonic representation of a beating heart”. He has also made 3 LPs with his avant-country outfit Laila and Smitty, two jazz records for the London based Whirlwind Recordings, and a series of covid-era solo records which are available exclusively on bandcamp.
Warren’s 20 plus years in Brooklyn have produced a body of work in conversation with generations of the city’s greatest musical artists. Current NY based collaborations include work with the original-song-driven band Slow Tiger, an improvised collective with Carlo Costa & BlankFor.ms, and a duo with Gregg Belisle-Chi. Warren is also a frequent collaborator with the Berlin based artist, Jeremy Viner, and the Denver based band Mountain Coast.
Warren is a member of the Webber/Morris Big Band, two stellar Stephan Crump ensembles: Passarine and Slow Water, and of the Angelica Sanchez Nonet. Other recent side-person appearances include work with Marta Sanchez, Caroline Davis, Tony Malaby, Jamie Baum, Brad Shepik, Noah Garabedian and Brian Krock. Warren is also a longstanding member of the brass band Slavic Soul Party who has held a weekly residency at Barbès in Brooklyn for over 22 years.
Warren’s music draws inspiration from Black American music, folk and classical music traditions around the world, and the global improvisational music scene. He has found his voice with help from his vibrant community of musicians in Brooklyn, and with wisdom from his childhood trumpet heroes in Denver, Ron Miles, Greg Gisbert and Al Hood.