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Charnett Moffett

tannis_root

tannis_root

Sep 3, 2021
14
3
#1
I feel late to the party, but I just got hip to a bassist named Charnett Moffett, via his superb new album called New Love. A best of 2021 contender, for sure. Moffett's playing and arrangements kind of reminds of jamband guys like Phil Lesh and Mike Gordon of Phish. I could be way off the mark with that though.

Moffett has played with some heavy hitters like McCoy Tyner, Branford Marsalis and Stanley Jordan, and has associations with Ornette Coleman and an understanding of Ornette's "harmolodics". Hmmmm...:)
 
#2
tannis_root said:
Moffett's playing and arrangements kind of reminds of jamband guys like Phil Lesh and Mike Gordon of Phish. I could be way off the mark with that though.
Click to expand...

I'm not super familiar with Moffett's work, but I am familiar with the work of a lot of the artists he's worked with (Ornette Coleman, Pharoah Sanders, Sonny Sharrock, the Marsalis brothers, Tony Williams) and if that's any indication of the music he's making, hearing him as a "jamband guy" probably only works in an extremely course, 10,000-foot view. Yes, I suppose Moffett has more in common with Phil Lesh than he does with, say, Sid Vicious. But as soon as you recognize the types of harmonic environments they're working in and the pitch language they're using, you realize there's a vast difference between "jamband guys" and improvisers who come from the jazz world.
 
#4
I was listening to his Music From Our Soul album the other day and thinking how he's been around for such a long time, he gets taking for granted, same for Lonnie Plaxico. I have a solo albums from both players dating back to the late 80's and it sometimes takes me awhile to cycle back to their work, and I'm always happy when I do.
Both are underrated and overlooked when we talk about great players. IMHO
 
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#6
I’m not sure I agree that Moffett is underrated; he’s quite well-known, has played many high-profile gigs and has a very successful career.

I like his tone and his technical facility is pretty amazing. The only time I’ve heard him live was with McCoy Tyner (Pharoah Sanders was also in the band) and I actually didn’t think he was a very good fit in that particular band. His playing was very, very busy and flashy and he was stepping on Sanders and Tyner. I’d like to hear him play as a leader or with a slightly more aggressive combo; some type of situation where that kind of playing would fit better.

Of course, others’ mmv…
 
#8
almost human said:
I saw him in Stanley Jordan's trio with Kenwood Dennard on drums decades ago, and I can still remember my jaw on the floor at his playing. Monster bassist.
Click to expand...
I saw him in a 4-tet with Joe Ford (alto, BL), Kenny Kirkland, & Tain Watts.
Mid-'90s time frame at the Norfolk Townpoint Jazz Festival.
Moffett played URB on this gig. IIRC, Joe Ford announced this was the 1st time all had played together. Kirkland & Watts flew in from L.A. Ford flew in from the North, Moffett from the Southeast.
The 1st tune, about a 15 minute tour-de-force, was ridiculous. I talked to a friend about it...he left after the 1st tune because he was so blown away...everything after woulda just been anti-climatic.
:)
 
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#9
I was working at a recording studio in NYC when I met Cody and Charnett... Charnett was a brief meeting, but I felt Cody and I hit it off. He invited me to come jam with him, but after seeing him and Charnett play I felt too intimidated. I kinda regret it now, but I know I wasn't really ready for that.
 

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