First the bad news, and then the good news.
The bad news is that if you’re reading this, you missed probably the most joyful jazz gig of the past year. The good news is that the duo of Charnett Moffett and Jana Herzen will give you three more chances to take in their beautiful talents for the following three Wednesdays.
Since his days with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Tony Williams and Wallace Roney, bassist extraordinaire Charnett Moffett has been building up a catalogue of music that sublimely melds the technique and sophistication of jazz with the spiritual aspects of a pilgrim. Most successful of these adventures has been with his partner and wife, guitarist/vocalist Jana Herzen. The two have set up a weekly Wednesday Residency at Catalina’s for January, and judging by the first 70 minute set, the months of COVID lockdowns and draconian laws suddenly seemed a bit brighter to those in attendance.
The two have released a handful of albums together, while the evening’s set featured songs from a wide range of their own albums as well. And if you think a simple guitar/bass set is going to be lacking in dynamics and adventure, well, think again.
The evening was divided into exciting and jaw dropping instrumentals and encouraging folksy vocals supplied by Ms. Herzen. Of the latter, Moffett used his acoustic bass guitar to draw some flowing flamenco sketches with a flowing opener “We Are Here To Pray” as the guitars volleyed like jai alai champs. There was contemplative interplay on the stained glass window glow of “Bright New Day” while Moffett’s strings took the lyrical lead on the gorgeously intuitive and joyful “Innocence of Truth” while Herzen supplied supportive chords and strumming comments over the bass ripples of joy. The “Jazz Free” improv had the two converse back and forth with Herzen’s strings taking time to set the pulse, then stroll, race and rest with Moffett’s digital dexterity.
Herzen delivered the vocals on “The Man In The Moon” and the poetic “New Love” with the heart and feel of a minstrel. Her intro to “Over The Rainbow” included wide eyed optimism in the opening aria, while “Have a Lot Of Faith” was a sublime melding of her optimistic message gliding over Moffett’s mix of funky and a all out nasty bass line. Her urgent “Speak” started out as a calm encouragement, slowly building up the embers with Moffett’s undercurrent up to a final celebratory climax, while her Iberian “Sodade” was in bel canto form in voice and visceral allure. As she said afterwards, “we share emotional creativity”.
The two closed out the evening with “Shepherd 2” a rich and luminous piece that went from spacey to meditative to South Asian, and always swinging; stretched but never out of its shape.
Bookending the bad news/good news for the review-the fear of getting a virus kept people from taking in the celebratory sounds of Moffett and Herzen. The good news, as shown by the couple, is that “perfect love casts out fear” and those in attendance could feel the effects of the healing service. Don’t miss out on something positive happening in LA.
Moffett and Herzen will return January 12, 19 & 26. Other upcoming shows include Arturo Sandoval 01/14-15, Simon Phillips 01/21-23, Billy Stritch 01/27 and Sinne Eeg 01/30