Album Notes

Artists' Notes

Laura: This CD, Five of Hearts, is the second one by our group, FivePlay Jazz Quintet. We continue on our quest to make melodic, heartfelt original jazz that feeds your soul.

Four of these tracks were recorded in 2008, the other seven in 2010. The two years between the recording sessions were the most challenging of my life. During that time, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and lost my mother. Throughout all the turbulence and struggles, playing and composing music kept me going, and aided my return to joy and health. I hope the music that came out of it speaks to you.

Tony: Not your typical jazz CD and I hope that's OK with you, because we like variety, dialect, and color. I'm incredibly grateful to be in the delightful company of my darlin' wife and dear friends once again. And I've been thinking a lot about the next CD…


About the Music

The journey starts in Terra Incognita where, just when you think you know what's coming, the road takes an unexpected turn. Ting-a-Ling is an rhythmic, angular burner, starting sparse and building inexorably all the way through. Ha Ha is a retro boogaloo that will get you moving and grooving. Dark, mysterious and minor, Monsoon Blues was written during a long and rainy stretch of California winter. We samba the clouds away with the ebullient Ano Novo. In Ya Kitis Zaks (a clue to its origin: say the title fast), Balkan meets rock & roll and Dave lets loose in a wild duet with Alan. Duke Ellington’s ballads inspired Laura to write the lush and romantic Summer Dusk. Scrim Shimmy takes you back to a simpler, laid-back and swinging time in jazz. Paul and Alan are right in the pocket here. The Kiss of the Tenor is a passionate and dramatic tango sandwiching a sojourn in jazz country. Finally, Brother Dave is a soulful gospel waltz that Tony wrote in memory of his dear lifelong friend, the talented drummer Dave Murtaugh.

From our hearts

We want to thank everyone who participated in making this record, especially Dan Feiszli and Jeff Cressman for their big ears and creative suggestions, Wendy DeWitt, Nancy Lee Andersen, and the folks at Fantasy Studios. Thanks to all of our dear family and friends, and the many wonderful and inspiring musicians that have been part of our lives over many years. Thanks to Yoshi’s, the DJs at KCSM and KPFA (and all the DJs everywhere who aired our first CD), Anna DeLeon, Cathi Walkup, and Lisa Reedy for helping us to get the music out there. And a special thanks to you, our listeners: we couldn’t do it without you!