News
A VIDEO SALUTE TO OPAL LE AND JUNETEENTH

A VIDEO SALUTE TO OPAL LE AND JUNETEENTH

We at Motéma want to celebrate and elevate the voice and works of teacher and activist Opal Lee, 95, known as “The Grandmother of Juneteenth”. At age 89 she began a walking campaign to advocate for this11th Federal Holiday, which celebrates the freeing of enslaved African Americans at the end of the Civil War, and serves to underscore that none of us are free until all of us are free.   Ms. Lee said on CNN today “I want you to know that it’s mind-boggling to think that we actually have a holiday…  Juneteenth means freedom!”  Here’s a video montage to honor this moment,  that is set to the final track of artist/activist Rene Marie’s remarkable album ‘Voice of My Beautiful People’ (Motéma 2011). Learn more about Opal Lee and Juneteenth here: shorturl.at/loHUW and here: https://www.opalswalk2dc.com/


CHARNETT MOFFETT 1967-2022 LIFE CELEBRATION

CHARNETT MOFFETT 1967-2022 LIFE CELEBRATION

Kind People,  A Life Celebration for the iconic jazz bassist Charnett Moffett will take place at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, California, on Monday, May 2nd at 11:30 am. 
The Ceremony is open to the public. Details are below. His official family obituary and a place to post photos and remembrances may be found at this link:
https://www.altamesafuneralhome.com/obituary/charnett-moffett  

Charnett Moffett Life Celebration // Monday, May 2nd
11:30 a.m. Chapel doors open
11:45 a.m. Service, Music, and Remembrances: 
1:15 p.m.  Procession to the Graveside 
1:30 p.m.  Graveside Prayers


~~~~~~~~

Alta Mesa Memorial Park
695 Arastradero Road
Palo Alto, California
(650) 493-1041
Kindly RSVP to charnettmax@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

~~~~~~~~

Peace and Blessings to All, 
from Motema, Jana Herzen and The Moffett Family


Charnett Moffett June 10, 1967- April 11, 2022 – Fly free and joyfully forever dear friend.

Charnett Moffett June 10, 1967- April 11, 2022 – Fly free and joyfully forever dear friend.

We are infinitely sad that a beloved pillar of Motema left us for another dimension this week. Charnett Moffett has been with our label since 2008, has released nine beautiful albums with us, and has for twelve years on and off been a musical collaborator of our founder, Jana Herzen, whom he married in 2020. We extend our deepest condolences to Jana and to Charnett’s immediate family: son Charnett Max, daughter Amareia, daughter-in-law Lily, grandchildren Cyrus and Danijela, mother Shirley, sister Charisse, and brothers Cody, Charles Jr., and Mondré. His talent was immense, his spirit larger than life, his joy infectious. We rejoice that his indomitable, vastly creative, high-flying spirit is now flying free in the higher dimensions from which he always drew his musical inspiration.

Thanks to Jeff Tamarkin and JazzTimes for this communication about his life and music read it here.



“…the most joyful jazz gig of the past year.” JAZZ WEEKLY on HERZEN & MOFFETT JANUARY RESIDENCY AT CATALINA

“…the most joyful jazz gig of the past year.” JAZZ WEEKLY on HERZEN & MOFFETT JANUARY RESIDENCY AT CATALINA

“…“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.”

George W. Harris of Jazz Weekly urges music lovers in Los Angeles to treat themselves to what he described as   “…the most joyful jazz gig of the past year.” Read the full article here!

Buy tickets to any three of the shows left in this month-long residency here!


“BEST OF 2021” ACCOLADES FOR JIHYE LEE ORCHESTRA’S ‘DARING MIND’

“BEST OF 2021” ACCOLADES FOR JIHYE LEE ORCHESTRA’S ‘DARING MIND’

Jihye Lee Orchestra’s Daring Mind has ranked high on year-end “Best Jazz Album of 2021” lists in
All About Jazz, The Guardian (UK), Textura, NPR (Illinois) South Dakota Public Broadcasting, JazzWise (UK), Musica Jazz (IT), and Le Monde (FR) which included ‘Daring Mind’
in their prestigious, “Top 5 jazz album of 2021” year-end round-up.

Throughout the year, Critics and curators have recognized Lee as a refreshing and important new force in contemporary jazz. Be sure to take a listen to hear one of the finest large ensemble releases of 2021.