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Charnett Moffett Archives

In Memoriam: Charnett Moffett
In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Charnett Moffett

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.

Charnett Moffett Releases “New Love”
New Albums

Charnett Moffett Releases “New Love”

Bass virtuoso Charnett Moffett has returned with his seventeenth album as a leader, entitled “New Love”. The bassist describes the music, recorded in trio and quartet band formats, as a love letter to humanity.

Charnett Moffett Goes All Electric on “Bright New Day”
New Albums

Charnett Moffett Goes All Electric on “Bright New Day”

Charnett Moffett has returned with “Bright New Day.” The exploratory release pushes the bassist in a new direction on his own instrument, as well. Moffett, who is best known for his virtuosic double bass playing, opted to record the whole album on his fretless electric.

The Nett Duo, featuring Charnett Moffett, Releases “Overtones”
New Albums

The Nett Duo, featuring Charnett Moffett, Releases “Overtones”

The Nett Duo has released their debut recording, called “Overtones.” The duo, which consists of guitarist Jana Herzen and virtuoso bassist Charnett Moffett, put together a free-form program that blends jazz, rock, folk, and classical music.

Charnett Moffett Releases “Spirit of Sound”
New Albums

Charnett Moffett Releases “Spirit of Sound”

Veteran bassist Charnett Moffett has released Spirit of Sound, his thirteenth album as a leader and companion to his solo release, The Bridge which debuted in April. While Spirit of Sound is not a solo bass album like The Bridge, it does center heavily on Moffett’s bass virtuosity. The new album finds Moffett building upon the “Harmolodic Free Jazz” concepts...

Charnett Moffett Releases “The Bridge: Solo Bass Works”
New Albums

Charnett Moffett Releases “The Bridge: Solo Bass Works”

Charnett Moffett is reflecting on his instrument and his career on his latest release entitled The Bridge: Solo Bass Works. The record captures the veteran jazz musician alone with his bass in a creative burst that focuses on his past repertoire as well as eight original compositions. “I wanted to express who I am, carry on the tradition of the...

Charnett Moffett: Star Spangled Banner
Bass Videos

Charnett Moffett: Star Spangled Banner

Bassist Charnett Moffett takes his upright bass and channels some Hendrix in this all-bass rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner”. Happy fourth!

Charnett Moffett: Enlightenment
Bass Videos

Charnett Moffett: Enlightenment

Adept at both upright and electric bass, Charnett Moffett is a bassist to be reckoned with. Here, he showcases electric chops and improvisatory skills on his tune “Enlightenment,” for which he utilizes a piccolo bass. The song comes off as a meditation with its Middle-Eastern influences. Some might say “it’s too trebly,” but just wait for the 1:28 mark. (My...

Charnett Moffett with Stanley Jordan: Autumn Leaves
Bass Videos

Charnett Moffett with Stanley Jordan: Autumn Leaves

Charnett Moffett lays down more of a running bass line behind tapping virtuoso Stanley Jordan before showing off his own finger-busting solo on the jazz standard “Autumn Leaves”.

Charnett Moffett Releases “Treasure”
New Albums

Charnett Moffett Releases “Treasure”

Charnett Moffett has just released his 11th album, Treasure, on Motéma Records as his follow-up to 2009’s Art of Improvisation. The album sees Moffett tear through his original compositions, varying in styles from classic jazz to East Indian and country, on fretless electric, upright, and his piccolo bass. Moffett has had lengthy stints with Ornette Coleman as well as Wynton...

Bass Videos

Charnett Moffett bass solo

Bassist Charnett Moffett shows off his versatility as a player in this video from a 2002 Vienna performance. He solos using the bow as a percussive stick against the strings and runs his upright bass through different effects. This combined with his finger plucking give one unique solo! In this video he’s playing with the Mccoy Tyner 4tet. Moffett has...

New Albums

Charnett Moffett: The Art of Improvisation

The Art of Improvisation is the latest release by bassist Charnett Moffett and features him on both electric and acoustic bass. Charnett is joined by Will Calhoun, Eric McPherson, and Charnette Max Moffett on drums, Yungchen Lhamo on vocals, Scott Brown on piano, Pat Jones and Steve Barnes on guitar, and Robert Joseph Avalon on trumpet. All About Jazz‘s Francis...