Search - Charnett Moffett :: For the Love of Peace

In an illustrious career, innovative bassist-composer Char?ett Moffett has made significant contributions in supporting the works of Wynton Marsalis, Ornette Coleman, Art Blakey, Tony Williams, and McCoy Tyner. Moffett’s latest recording as a leader is a family affair entitled For the Love of Peace. A majority of this dynamic Piadrum Records debut focuses on Moffett’s peerless pizzicato playing and bowing technique on the upright bass, culminating in the unaccompanied, uncompromising 10 1/2-minute title track that showcases the depth of his musical vision. The opening track, "In The Beginning," was inspired by a type of traditional Hindu music. All the musicians engage in a spirited conversation together on "I Love the Lord" while "Numbers" exemplifies the beauty of the Freedom with Discipline concept. The lively Ornette flavored piece "Free Spirit," anchored by Char?ett’s agile lines on electric bass, carries a festive feeling of joy and dance. "Go Placidly" is an up-tempo burner with Char?ett setting the pace on upright. Char?ett refers to the brief, buoyant interlude "The Calling" as "a celestial mood piece" while his bold bowing of the melody on "The Shepherd" and percussive tapping with the bow sets up a hypnotic pulse for a lyrical Mondre flugelhorn solo. "Forgiven," a solo bass interlude performed pizzicato, segues into the provocative spoken word piece "Who Took My Shopping Cart," a waltz-time number with words from the perspective of a homeless person. "Prayer" is a solo arco bass interlude which sets up the surging, free-spirited swinger "Spirit of Blues." Char?ett and company dip deeply into a harmolodic bag on "Mercy and Grace" and "The Movement Of Freedom," both of which feature the cohesive, flowing chemistry of the quartet in full stride. And the bassist closes out the collection with the extended, virtuosic solo bass "For the Love of Peace," which has three movements that run a gamut of emotions and expression.