Interview/Profile News

Bassist Charnett Moffett Interviewed at AAJ

SOURCE:

Published: 2009-12-07

"I enjoy all of the music, just as I enjoy different aspects of color in paintings, or different people, or different types of food, or things of that nature. For me, it seems to be a more interesting way of life to have an appreciation for all that is offered on the planet."

With that simple statement, bassist Charnett Moffett says a lot about his career in music that began as young a child, and was pretty much inevitable from the moment he appeared on the planet in 1967, as the son of drummer Charles Moffett Charles Moffett
1929 - 1997
drums . He started playing drums at age two, and then investigated the trumpet before he eventually found his hands around an upright bass, performing with the Moffett Family Band, led by his dad, that included brother Codaryl (Cody) also on drums, brother Mondre on trumpet and brother Charles, Jr. on sax. Bass chores were handled by Patrick McCarthy and young Charnett on a half-sized bass.

AAJ Contributor R.J. DeLuke spoke with Moffett about his latest album, The Art of Improvisation (Motema, 2009), his time spent playing with his namesake, Ornette Coleman Ornette Coleman
b.1930
sax, alto and other jazz legends including McCoy Tyner McCoy Tyner
b.1938
piano and Tony Williams Tony Williams
1945 - 1997
drums , and how lessons learned from these icons have helped shape his own music.