JazzTimes is honored to present the premiere of “’Round the World (Slow Down),” taken from the album ’Round the World by singer/songwriter/guitarist Jana Herzen and bassist Charnett Moffett, to be released May 29 by Motéma Records.
The track, written by Herzen, is a blues ballad that, the author reports, came to her in the middle of the night in New York City after returning from what she calls a “musical mystery tour” through Japan, Bali, and outback Australia in 1990-91. As is the case for all the selections on ’Round the World, Herzen and Moffett are the only performers. There are four other Herzen originals on the album, along with six covers, including rearrangements of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly,” Maria Muldaur’s “Sweetheart,” Men at Work’s “Down Under,” and Paul Williams’ “The Rainbow Connection.”
Herzen’s creative relationship with Moffett began in 2008 when she signed him to the Motéma label, which she continues to manage. Their first duo album, Passion of a Lonely Heart, was released in 2012. The 11 tracks on ’Round the World were recorded during the sessions for that first album but set aside for a later date, which has now come to pass.
This coming Monday (March 30) at 10 p.m. EDT, Herzen and Moffett will perform selections from ’Round the World and Herzen’s most recent solo album, Nothing But Love, as part of the online Quarantine Concert Series hosted by music producer Kabir Sehgal, promoting donations for COVID-19 relief for musicians.
You can follow Jana Herzen and Charnett Moffett via their artist links at Spotify.
