COMPOSERS: Charnett Moffett
LABELS: Motema
ALBUM TITLE: Charnett Moffett: The Bridge
WORKS: The Bridge
PERFORMER: Charnett Moffett (bass)
CATALOGUE NO: 233681
This release makes much of its supposed rarity as a solo bass CD, but that’s an American thing; Europe has long been at ease with the solo work of bassists Barry Guy, Dave Holland et al, and has happily provided solo contexts for incomers such as John Lindberg and Barre Phillips, both live and on disc, so Moffett’s undertaking actually fits in well. That said, the album is more conservative than the music of any of the above, presenting a number of standards and near-standards (although playing them as solo bass pieces, often split into melody and accompaniment, un-standardises them somewhat). Moffett also keeps the individual tracks very short.
Within these parameters, the disc is certainly successful on the creative level with plenty of scope for Moffett’s well-channelled virtuosity, although the reduced sustain and shallow tone of his thin-bodied Kolstein bass is sonically disappointing and does this music no favours.
Roger Thomas