|
Released in 1995, Charnett Moffett's Planet Home represents a tremendous musical
accomplishment. Coming from a successful musical family, Moffett has been playing the bass since
early childhood, and he has been recognized on the scene for quite some time as a master of the
instrument. What Moffett had yet to do prior to Planet Home was delineate just what he was
going to do with all the technique and experience he’d accumulated at such a young age.
Evidently, he intends to create.
With the assistance of Geoff Keezer on piano/synthesizer and
Victor Lewis on drums, Moffett creates not only individually moving compositions, but a total work of
poise and clarity. This is musicianship at its finest: devoid of genre constraints, fluid, innovative, and
dedicated to that finest of all artistic traits, free expression. Moffett’s compositions range from the
solemn solo opening track “Aura” to the harder, fusion-funk oriented “Peace within the Struggle” to
the almost classically expressionistic piece “Free Your Mind.” Moffett ends the album with a
tremendous and bold interpretation of “The Star Spangled Banner,” the only track on Planet
Home
he did not compose.
Quoted in the liner notes, Moffett explains, “I know I can play the bass. Now I just want to
concentrate on making strong musical statements, not just as a soloist but as a conceptualist as
well.” Certainly, with Planet Home Moffett demonstrates his mastery of technique, but he
also attains his own aspirations, proving himself a composer capable of a cohesive, challenging,
and deeply stirring musical statement.
For the listener totally unaware of Moffett’s work, this album will definitely surprise and enchant, but
for those already familiar with either his previous work or his later live performance, this recording
deserves close scrutiny.
~ Franz A. Matzner
|
Track Listing: 1. Aura
2. Brothers & Sisters
3. Planet Home
4. Peace within the Struggle
5. The Jam
6. Free your mind
7. Parade
8. Touch Tone
9. Last Run
10. Star Spangled Banner
Personnel: Charnett Moffett: Acoustic, fretless and piccolo basses
Geoff Keezer: Piano/Synthesizer
Victor Lewis: Drums
|
