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Charles Moffett
Born(1929-09-06)September 6, 1929
DiedFebruary 14, 1997(1997-02-14) (aged 67)
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, educator
Instrument(s) Drum kit

Charles Moffett (September 6, 1929 – February 14, 1997) was an American free jazz drummer. [1]

Biography

Moffett was born in Fort Worth, Texas, [1] where he attended I.M. Terrell High School with Ornette Coleman. [2]: 27  Before switching to drums, Moffett began his musical career as a trumpeter. [2] At age 13, he played trumpet with Jimmy Witherspoon, [1] [3] and later formed a band, the Jam Jivers, with fellow students Coleman and Prince Lasha. [2]: 30  After switching to drums, Moffett briefly performed with Little Richard. [3]

Moffett served in the United States Navy, after which he pursued boxing before studying music at Huston-Tillotson College in Austin. [3] Moffett married in 1953 (Coleman was best man, and performed at the wedding), [2]: 44  then began teaching music at a public school in Rosenberg, Texas [3]

In 1961, Moffett moved to New York City to work with Ornette Coleman, [3] but the saxophonist soon went into a brief retirement period. [1] Moffett worked with Sonny Rollins, appeared on Archie Shepp's album Four for Trane, and led a group that included Pharoah Sanders and Carla Bley. [1] When Coleman returned to performing in 1964, he formed a trio with Moffett and bassist David Izenzon. [1] Moffett also performed on vibraphone.

Moffett began teaching music at New York Public Schools as a way to make ends meet when Coleman made only sporadic performances. [3] Moffett taught at P.S. 58 (Carrol School) in Brooklyn and at P.S. 177 M (under the Manhattan Bridge and now defunct). He also taught at a Brooklyn High School. Moffett moved to Oakland, California, where he served as the city's music director, and was later the principal of the alternative Odyssey public school in Berkeley in the mid-1970s. [3] The title of his first solo album The Gift is a reference to his love of teaching music. His then 7-year-old son Codaryl played drums on that album. Moffett later returned to Brooklyn, NY and taught at P.S. 142 Stranahan Junior High School (Closed in 2006) and at P.S. 58 Carroll School.

His children are double bassist Charnett Moffett, drummer Codaryl "Cody" Moffett, vocalist Charisse Moffett, trumpeter Mondre Moffett, and saxophonist Charles Moffett, Jr. [1]

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Ahmed Abdullah

with Ornette Coleman

with Eric Dolphy

  • Memorial Album ( FM)

with Archie Shepp

with Prince Lasha

with Harold McNair

With Joe McPhee

with the Charles Tyler Ensemble

with the Bob Thiele Emergency

  • Head Start (Flying Dutchman)

with Frank Lowe

with Sonny Simmons

  • Ancient Ritual ( Qwest/ Reprise)
  • Transcendence (CIMP)
  • Judgement Day (CIMP)

with Keshavan Maslak

with Kenny Millions

  • Brother Charles (Hum Ha)
  • Masking Tape Music (Hum Ha)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Yanow, Scott. Charles Moffett at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  2. ^ a b c d Litweiler, John (1994) [1992]. "Chapter 1". Ornette Coleman: A Harmolodic Life (paperback ed.). New York: Da Capo. ISBN  0-306-80580-4.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Bradley Shreve, " MOFFETT, CHARLES," Handbook of Texas Online, accessed July 26, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
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