Charnett Moffett

A virtuoso bassist, Charnett Moffett was an ebullient and lyrical improviser whose work straddled acoustic post-bop, electric fusion, and contemporary jazz. The son of drummer Charles Moffett, Sr., he first gained attention as a member of Wynton Marsalis' group in the 1980s. He also played with icons like Tony Williams, Stanley Jordan, and Ornette Coleman. His own work was stylistically broad-minded and albums like 1989's Beauty Within, 1994's Planet Home, and 2019's Bright New Day showcased his spiritually and harmonically rich approach to contemporary jazz. It's also a theme he explored with his wife, singer/guitarist Jana Herzen, on albums like 2020's Round the World and 2021's New Love.