Charnett Moffett

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.

Charnett Moffett - Treasure (2010) {Motéma Music MTM-43, Enhanced CD Bonus Video}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 307 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 128 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 8 Mb | Bonus Video -> 165 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2010 Motéma Music | MTM-43
Jazz / Post Bop / World Jazz / Jazz Blues / Bass

For Charnett Moffett's eleventh CD as a leader, he has chosen to play acoustic upright, but mainly electric bass guitar in settings that have a distinct Eastern Indian flavor. Surrounded by sitar, harmonium, and tabla, Moffett's popping, funky bass melds into an ethnic fusion that also taps on American jazz or rhythm & blues. The combination is very palatable, arresting, and captivating, considering the concept and high virtuosity the bassist has always employed. Moffett has always been curious and able to challenge himself outside conventional jazz, on this date, he occasionally goes into speed-demon mode, working with spoken word vocals and even a bit of country and eastern fusion.

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.

On his debut effort Evidence, Cody Moffett is supported by his brother Charnett Moffett, Ravi Coltrane, Kenny Drew, Jr., and brothers Antoine and Wallace Roney for run-throughs of mostly standards. While each of these players is accomplished, their abilities are, at times, covered up by Cody Moffett's over-drumming. Because of this, he sounds like he was trying too hard to prove his status among the elite of jazz drummers. There's no doubt Moffett is fine behind the trap set, but Evidence leaves the listener wishing he had focused more on the material and less on showing off his chops. All of that said, there are some nice performances on the album where Moffett plays with the band instead of over them, as in the nice reading of John Coltrane's "Equinox" and the lovely ballad "Beautiful Love".