Warren Wolf (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Warren Wolf Jr.
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Warren Wolf with vibraphone tone bars in 2024
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Warren Edward Wolf Jr. |
| Born | November 10, 1979 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Vibraphone, marimba, drums, piano, percussion, vocals |
| Labels | Mack Avenue |
| Associated acts | Christian McBride & Inside Straight, SFJAZZ Collective, WOLFPACK |
Warren Wolf Jr. (born November 10, 1979) is a talented American jazz musician. He plays many instruments, but he is especially known for the vibraphone. A vibraphone is like a xylophone but with metal bars and a special pedal. Warren Wolf is from Baltimore, Maryland. He also teaches music at important schools like the Peabody Institute Conservatory of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
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Warren Wolf's Early Life and Music Journey
Warren Wolf was born in November 1979. He started learning music at just three years old. He learned to play the vibraphone, marimba, drums, and piano. He had classical music training at the Peabody Institute for eight years. He then graduated with honors from the Baltimore School for the Arts in 1997.
In 1997, he went to Berklee College of Music. He graduated from Berklee in 2001. There, he studied the vibraphone with a famous jazz vibraphonist named Dave Samuels. While at Berklee, Warren was very active in the jazz music scene in Boston. He played the vibraphone, drums, and piano. He even co-led a music group at Wally's Cafe, a well-known jazz club in Boston. He also worked there as the main drummer.
Warren Wolf played with many other musicians during his time at Berklee. Some of these included Jeremy Pelt and John Mayer. After graduating, he continued to be a local musician in Boston. In September 2003, he became a teacher at the Berklee College of Music. He gave private lessons for vibraphone and drums. He also taught a beginner piano class for new students.
Warren Wolf's Career as a Professional Musician
Warren Wolf left Berklee in 2005 and moved back to Baltimore. Since then, he has been very busy playing jazz music around the world. He has toured with famous groups like Bobby Watson's "Live and Learn" Sextet. He also played with Christian McBride & "Inside Straight." Warren also leads his own group of young musicians called "Wolfpack."
He is also a member of the Aaron Diehl Quartet and the SFJAZZ Collective. Many jazz critics, like Ben Ratliff from the New York Times, have praised his performances. One of his performances in 2011 was even shown on NPR with a 60-minute video.
Warren Wolf has recorded several albums as the main artist. His album Warren Wolf (2011) featured Christian McBride on bass. A music critic from the New York Daily News called it "one of the best of the year in jazz." Other important albums he led include Incredible Jazz Vibes (2005) and Black Wolf (2009). He also recorded a solo album called Life in 2023, where he played only vibraphone and marimba.
Warren Wolf's Music Albums
Albums as the Main Artist
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Life | J.M.I. Recordings |
| 2024 | History of the Vibraphone | Cellar Music Group |
| 2023 | Chano Pozo: Origins | Wolfpack |
| 2020 | Reincarnation | Mack Avenue |
| 2020 | Christmas Vibes | Mack Avenue |
| 2016 | Convergence | Mack Avenue |
| 2013 | Wolfgang | Mack Avenue |
| 2011 | Warren Wolf | Mack Avenue |
| 2009 | Black Wolf | M & I |
| 2005 | Incredible Jazz Vibes | M & I |
Albums as a Featured Musician
- Willie Jones III, Groundwork (WJ3 Records 2015)
- Aaron Diehl, The Bespoke Man's Narrative (Mack Avenue 2013)
- Willie Jones III, The Next Phase (WJ3 Records 2010)
With Christian McBride & Inside Straight
- Live at the Village Vanguard (Mack Avenue, 2021)
- People Music (Mack Avenue, 2013)
- Kind of Brown (Mack Avenue, 2009)
With Christian Sands
- Embracing Dawn (Mack Avenue, 2024)
With SFJAZZ Collective
- The Music of Miles Davis and Original Compositions Live: SFJAZZ Center (2017)
- The Music of Joe Henderson and Original Compositions Live: SFJAZZ Center (2015)
- The Music of Michael Jackson and Original Compositions Live: SFJAZZ Center (2016)
- The Music of Antônio Carlos Jobim and Original Compositions Live: SFJAZZ Center (2019)
- Original Compositions & The Music of Ornette Coleman, Stevie Wonder and Thelonius Monk (2018)
- 50th Anniversary: Miles Davis' "In A Silent Way" and Sly & The Family Stone "Stand!" (2020)
- New Works Reflecting The Moment (2022)
- New Works & Classics Reimagined: Live from SFJAZZ Center (2022)
- Twenty Year Retrospective, Vol. 3 (2024)
- 10th Anniversary: Best of Live at the SFJAZZ Center (2014)
Music Collections
- Live! From the 2013 Detroit Jazz Festival (Mack Avenue, 2014)
- It's Christmas on Mack Avenue (Mack Avenue, 2014)
