In Memoriam: Charnett Moffett

Today we have very sad news to share. Jazz bass virtuoso, composer, and bandleader Charnett Moffett died suddenly on Monday, April 11th of a heart attack. He was 54 years old. The news was confirmed by his publicist, Lydia Liebman.

“Mr. Moffett had privately been struggling with bouts of intense pain from Trigeminal Neuralgia for the past few years and Herzen and the family suspect that the heart attack was a complication of that condition,” she wrote. “The family is in shock and devastated, but also thankful that he is released from the intense pain, and invites all his fans and loved ones to celebrate with them that his indomitable, vastly creative, high flying, and joyful spirit is now free to fly even higher and even freer in the place that is better by far where ‘no eye has seen, what no hear has heard, and no human mind has conceived’ (1st Co 2:9) that is the Kingdom of Heaven prepared by God Elohim.”

Moffett came from a musical family and after attending LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City would go on to study at Mannes College of Music and Juilliard. He first appeared on Branford Marsalis’ debut album, Scenes In the City, and the next year was on Wynton Marsalis’ Grammy-winning record Black Codes (From The Underground). Throughout his career, he worked with top jazz legends from Mulgrew Miller to Michael Brecker to Kenny Garrett to Ornette Coleman to Stanley Jordan.

In 1987, he signed a deal with Blue Note Records and debuted as a leader with Net Man. He had over 16 solo albums that showcased his technical wizardry and endless creativity on both double bass and electric bass. Most recently he had been releasing music with his wife, Jana Herzen.

Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Charnett Moffett.