As Covid has eliminated touring for new releases Herzen and Moffett will take their road show online via Motema's Facebook channel. Each show will be posted for 24 hours, and will come down before the new show posts. The final show in the run on July 31 will also serve as a release celebration for the new Herzen single Kapaolioka'Ehukai which tells the beautiful, and larger than life story of Hawaiian surfing legend Rell Sunn.
Multiple new national media placements have coincided with the July release of Jana Herzen and Charnett Moffett's acclaimed acoustic duo album 'Round the World. In a WBGO Take Five pick, Nate Chinen described the project as "...a singer-songwriter album informed by jazz protocols," and praised, "the electric bass playing feels both foundational and annotative, while the singing and guitar playing hold down the center." Chinen's full write-up is below.
Essentially a singer-songwriter album informed by jazz protocols, 'Round the World includes homespun versions of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" and the Muppet classic "Rainbow Connection." On a song called "Far Away," composed by Shakara Mutela with lyrics by Herzen, the electric bass playing feels both foundational and annotative, while the singing and guitar playing hold down the center. And if you're noticing a particular simpatico between Herzen and Moffett, that only makes sense: they got married this past spring.
On 'Round the World, Herzen and Moffett marry innovation with nostalgia as they shape shift from folk to jazz to reggae to Afro-beat and beyond. With freshly imagined takes on classic 20th Century hits by Joni Mitchell, Men at Work, The Beatles, Roberta Flack, Maria Muldaur and Kermit the Frog, plus five strong originals by Herzen,'ROUND THE WORLD is quirky, smart, sophisticated, and sincere. The recording catches lightning in a bottle as these long-term creative partners charmingly finish each other's musical sentences on outstanding duo arrangements.. In these times of stress, isolation, fear and confusion, Herzen and Moffett offer a breath of fresh air, and a journey of understated joy and soulful communion, in a groove-solid yet dreamy aural landscape. Private streaming link to the full album is here: https://bit.ly/2AdOJIk.
Herzen comments "We are pleased we got to celebrate Independence Day with the release of 'Round The World - our musical affirmation that we are not only citizens of America but also citizens of the world. Hopefully, one day soon, we will be free again to travel 'round the world, to share music and spread good cheer and healing vibes." Moffett comments, "In a year when we have all had to socially distance, we really hope our music will help give people some uplifting feelings of love, honesty, spiritual sensitivity, and respect." Just as the duo began releasing singles for Round the World, Shelter in Place orders were given, so they switched gears and began presenting a 'Living Room Series', of live videos of their singles. The series may be seen on Herzen's YouTube Channel. The most recent addition is their fresh take on Joni Mitchell's gem, 'Both Sides Now', which they set to a swing/reggae/country groove. LINK: https://bit.ly/2ZIv8upIn France, Jazz at Six praised the album as "magnificent" in a new review, describing Moffett as "remarkable" and stating that Herzen evokes Laura Nyro and Joni Mitchell. Full review (in French): https://bit.ly/2ZHMBTK.
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