Charnett Moffat

For his 30th Anniversary as a recording artist, Charnett Moffett delivers a far-reaching set of his distinctly original jazz featuring an all-star cast of long-time collaborators from his distinguished career.

The Art Of Improvisation, Moffett showcases his extraordinary virtuosity on the upright bass - creating his own universe of singular sounds through innovative bowing techniques and electronic manipulation - while seamlessly switch hitting to fretless electric bass and electric piccolo bass, both of which he plays to beautiful melodic and rhythmic effect.

A brilliant bassist, Charnett Moffett shares a fault with Ron Carter: their own records have a great excess of bass solos. Moffett's debut as a leader features him with diverse groups ranging from duets to quartets and including such fine players as tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker, keyboardist Kenny Drew Jr, guitarist Stanley Jordan, drummer Al Foster, Kenny Kirkland on keyboards and several of his relatives (including his father, drummer Charles Moffett). Unfortunately, Charnett (who wrote all eight songs except "Mona Lisa" and "Softly As In a Morning Sunrise") dominates the solo space.

Although Charnett Moffett has considerable potential as a musician and a composer, he hasn't always lived up to it. The acoustic/electric bassist has recorded some excellent albums (including Planet Home and Still Life, both on Evidence), but he has come out with some weak, forgettable ones as well; Beauty Within is arguably the worst offender. Moffett can be great as a post-bop, fusion, or avant-garde player, although some of his contributions to smooth jazz in the late '80s and early '90s were downright embarrassing. For the Love of Peace, thankfully, is among his more noteworthy efforts. Most of this 2003 date falls into the acoustic post-bop category, and Moffett (who wrote all of the material himself) brings a highly spiritual outlook to this project.