News

New Album: NEW LOVE Out Now!

Enjoy the music video for REJOICE! celebrating Charnett Moffett’s June 2021 release, NEW LOVE.  Press response for this new album has been as unanimously upbeat as the album is… read on to learn more. Click here to: STREAM/BUY NEW LOVE.

“Charnett Moffett’s latest reminds us once again, that his quicksilver imagination matches the speed of his fingers.” – DOWNBEAT

“A master of both double bass and electric bass from an illustrious musical family, Moffett is known as much for the daunting breadth of his musicality as his technical prowess. – SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

‘New Love’ sits at the intersection of swing, spiritual and free jazz, a testament to how playing with everyone allows one to sound truly like no one else. It is music where the rhythm instruments take the melody and vocals hold the beat.” AFROPOP.ORG

“Remarkable. Not only is he a skillful, original stylist on his instrument, but he also refuses to let himself be restricted by what we think that instrument should be.” – JAZZ TIMES

“[His] dizzying versatility more than earns him his place among the world’s best jazz bassists.” – U DISCOVER MUSIC (50 Best Bassists in Jazz)

“The interplay of this trio is stupendous and breathtaking… Moffett’s idea of liberated music knows no bounds. The warmth he radiates with his joy of playing is impossible to resist.” – JAZZ’N’MORE
“This intensely engaging album of instrumental and vocal music swings with fervor and swirls with spiritual, contemplative beauty.”  – RELIX
“New Love has an engaging psych-rock influence that feels connected to bands like Mahavishnu Orchestra and the ’70s work of artists like Pat Metheny and Larry Coryell.  A joyously intimate album” – ALL MUSIC.COM
“This record overflows with optimism and warmth conveyed through the boiling joy of Moffett’s bass and the glistening responses from Herzen’s guitar. The pair put out a rich sound full of spirituality and positive emotion. This is one of the most unashamedly happy sets of music to appear in a long time.”ALL ABOUT JAZZ
“There’s much to like about New Love, from the high-wire group interplay to the leader’s melodic invention and, of course, Moffett’s stunning bass playing.” – TEXTURA
“Acclaimed bassist-composer and bandleader Charnett Moffett, as he’s been prone to do throughout his storied career, refines his sound once again for New Love… There’s plenty of uplifting melodious moments and just enough free jazz and interplay to keep the listener engaged. – GLIDE

LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE (3rd SINGLE FROM NEW LOVE)

NEW LOVE 2ND SINGLE FROM NEW LOVE

 

Order the album NEW LOVE HERE– Bass Magazine premiered the title single to Charnett Moffett’s”New Love” with this write-up:

“Bass icon Charnett Moffett showcases virtuosity and versatility on “New Love”, the new single off his forthcoming album of the same name due out this June via the label Motéma.

On this tender love song, Charnett’s melodic bass and emotive vocals take center stage with notable support from guitarist Jana Herzen, alto flutist Irwin Hall and drummer Corey Garcia. “This song was inspired by my love for Elohim, who gifted me my new love Jana [Herzen],” Moffett told Bass Magazine. The love and connection between Herzen and Moffett is palpable on the track, as the two ace players sound perfectly in step with one another; Herezen’s electric guitar work creates beautiful chordal harmonies to Moffett’s bass throughout. Get the flavor of this sonic treat here:

The single is one of many highlights on New Love, which will be released worldwide on June 11th. An exploratory follow-up to his 2018 offering Bright New Day, New Love expresses Moffett’s deeply personal permutations of love and an embracing of change as part of life’s progression: “Music is a universal language that speaks to all people. In life, human beings are in the constant process of change — whether an individual is conscious of this process or not,” said Moffett.” – BassMagazine.com

For more information contact: Lydia Liebman Promotions <lydialiebmanjazz@gmail.com>

Read the full press release and more on the Charnett Moffett artist page at Motéma:  here: http://motema.com/artists/charnett-moffett/

SPIRIT & BRIDE SONG- 1st Single from NEW LOVE

 

“Spirit and Bride Song,” led by Moffett’s bass and vocals with help from longtime guitarist and vocalist Jana Herzen and drummer Corey Garcia, sits at the intersection of swing, spiritual and free jazz, a testament to how playing with everyone allows one to sound truly like no one else. It is music where the rhythm instruments take the melody and vocals hold the beat.” – AFROPOP.ORG  – AfroPop Worldwide (Read full article)

For more information contact Lydia Liebman Promotions <lydialiebmanjazz@gmail.com>

MYSTERY – The New Single from NETT DUO [Charnett Moffett & Jana Herzen] – Out Now on Motema

BUY/STREAM MYSTERY HERE
In honor of our first anniversary, Jana Herzen and I have released the new collaborative single, MYSTERY, via our group NETT DUO.  Vocals and lyrics by Jana. Bass and production by yours truly.

Love is the Greatest Mystery!  Enjoy!

‘Round The World – Jana Herzen/Charnett Moffett (Motema, 2020)

BUY/STREAM ‘ROUND THE WORLD HERE

Vocals, Guitar – Jana Herzen
Fretless Electric Bass – Charnett Moffett

“There’s something special every time that Jana Herzen and Charnett Moffett make music together.  It’s pure, soulful and especially beautiful to hear, now, maybe more than ever. Together they’re magic.” – AMERICAN SONGWRITER

“On freshly imagined covers, from Men at Work to The Beatles to Kermit the Frog to Roberta Flack, plus originals by Herzen, the duo plays like creative partners who can finish each other’s musical sentences” – VENTS Magazine

“A combination of soulful originals and inventive, unexpected covers. One of these is a take on “Sweetheart,” composed by Ken Burgan in 1974, first recorded by Dan Hicks and made famous by Maria Muldaur.” – JAZZIZ

“Round the World (Slow Down)”, written by Herzen, is a blues ballad that, the author reports, came to her in the middle of the night in New York City after returning from what she calls a “musical mystery tour” through Japan, Bali, and outback Australia in 1990-91. As is the case for all the selections on ’Round the World, Herzen and Moffett are the only performers. There are four other Herzen originals on the album, along with six covers, including rearrangements of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly,” Maria Muldaur’s “Sweetheart,” Men at Work’s “Down Under,” and Paul Williams’ “The Rainbow Connection.” – JAZZ TIMES

 

Bright New Day – (Motéma, 2019)

BUY/STREAM BRIGHT NEW DAY HERE

Bright New Day reviewed:

“spiritual sounds, music from other cultures, funk, fusion and modern jazz… His virtuoso lines and figures on the fretless electric bass have a vocal quality…. through hypnotic theme repetitions unfolds a magical effect.” – Fono Forum – Four Stars (DE) Sept. 2019 – Four Stars.

“…he has long merited the accolade of one of the most stimulating bassists around. Here he initiates a new phase in his music… an enjoyable programme, mixing funkiness with floating lyricism.”Jazz Journal (UK) August -2019

“There is plenty to like about Charnett Moffett’s new quintet, especially his choice to concentrate solely on fretless electric bass…. Compositions such as “O My God Elohim” and “Set It Free” allow the intricacies of Moffett’s melodic style to shine through.” – DOWNBEAT – Sept 2019

“Moffett–who can impressively play every variety of acoustic and electric bass – plays only a fretless electric instrument [on Bright New Day] to create a unique mix of jazz, folk, and chamber music.”
– Jazz Times – Sept 2019

“Takes jazz to some new places…An accomplished set from an accomplished cat, this is high water mark listening music throughout.”
– Midwest Record – Sept 2019

“The ensemble has a mutable, constantly evolving quality.”
– Hot House – July 2019

 “[Moffett shares his] limitless (and fretless) imagination.” – Gary Walker, WBGO – July 2019

 

Overtones (Motéma, 2018 – digital album)

About Overtones

The Overtones EP is the debut release from NETT DUO a new acoustic bass and guitar duo formed by jazz bass virtuoso Charnett Moffett with guitarist Jana Herzen, Motema Music’s founder and president.
Out digitally on December 28, 2018, nthis all-original free-form program takes the listener on a sensitive improvisational journey with jazz, folk, and classical overtones.  Conceived by Moffett as a stress-busting antidote to anxiety, and the hustle and bustle of our times, this is music that relaxes the mind, brings a smile and leads the listener within. A perfect program to re-center for the New Year, Overtones faithfully captures the vibrational nuances of Moffett and Herzen’s distinctive string instruments and reveals their considerable musical empathy.
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Meditative video: Overtones. Photo images by nature photographer Sharron Lee Crocker.

About Bright New Day

Inspired by the electric periods of three chief influences – Jaco Pastorius, Ornette Coleman, and Miles Davis – legendary jazz bassist Charnett Moffett’s Bright New Day represents a new chapter in his expanding legacy of jazz innovation.    Internationally acclaimed for his pyrotechnic upright acoustic bass work on his own recordings and with a virtual “who’s who” of jazz, Moffett changes the game here, appearing for the first time exclusively with his fretless electric bass guitar and a new powerhouse touring band featuring rising-star violinist Scott Tixier, keyboard specialist Brian Jackson (known for his innovations with Gil Scott-Heron), drummer Mark Whitfield Jr, and electric guitarist Jana Herzen.
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Bright New Day with its fusion of free-jazz, rock, and classical themes,  follows up Moffett’s acclaimed, ‘Music from Our Soul’ (Motéma 2017) – feat. Pharaoh Sanders,  and his recent Nett Duo: ‘Overtones’ digital release with Jana Herzen (Motéma, 2018).
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Charnett Moffett Quartet performs “Bright New Day” live at Yoshi’s (July 11,2019)

Charnett Moffett Quartet – Clip of “Precious Air” live at Yoshi’s (July 11,2019) featuring Jana Herzen

Charnett Moffett Quartet performs “Netting” live at Yoshi’s (July 11,2019)

In-studio video of Charnett Moffett’s Free The Slaves from Bright New Day.

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Charnett Moffett: Music From Our Soul (Motema Music, 2017)

Charnett Cover

ABOUT MUSIC FROM OUR SOUL (Motéma, 2017)

In Celebration of his 30th Year as a Lead Recording Artist Charnett Moffett released Music From Our Soul featuring his long term collaborators and friends: Pharaoh Sanders, Stanley Jordan, Cyrus Chestnut, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, Victor Lewis, Mike Clark.

“One of the 10 Best Jazz Albums of 2017 (So Far)” – NY Observer 

Cover Feature –   Winter 2017 Jazziz Digital Edition: “BOLD AS LOVE: CHARNETT MOFFETT CONTINUES TO EXPLORE INNER
AND OUTER SPACE IN HIS QUEST FOR HONEST EXPRESSION.”

“Charnett Moffett is a bass wonderman…[he] plays hard and easily – it’s fun, in the moment and soulful.” – Downbeat (4 Stars)

• “A pivotal point in Charnett Moffett’s career….[it’s] among his most expressive recordings and it certainly deserves to be in your jazz collection.”– Sounds of Timeless Jazz

• “This well-played eclectic disc should appeal to various tastes in modern improvised music.”– ArtsFuse (May 2017)

• “A Triumph” – Gerry Gordon, WPRB, Princeton, NJ

• “A giant on his instrument and a stalwart figure in jazz,  …[Music From Our Soul] capitalizes on his many strengths while also highlighting his varied musical exploits and excursions.” – All About Jazz

• “Adds a link to the Ornette Coleman chain.”– The Buffalo News

• “Moffett has assembled some incredible players on this album.”– Stereogum (May 2017)

• “One of his generation’s leading bassists…. This CD is a good argument for Moffett’s importance on the jazz scene.” (recommended) – NYC Jazz Record