2009 was a good year for Laurence Hobgood. Having received a Grammy nomination for his stunning instrumental arrangements for Kurt Elling, he also performed for President Obama at the White House State Dinner with both Elling and Jennifer Hudson.

To say that Laurence Hobgood is the single most under-rated American jazz pianist of our time is somehow an understatement. Described by Dave Brubeck as "one of the most incredible pianists I have ever heard", Hobgood has been directing Kurt Elling's Blue Note (and now Concorde) recordings for fifteen years and has accrued his very own Grammy Nomination for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying A Vocal Performance for his work on Elling's Flirting With Twilight (2001).

Hobgood is due to release his fifth album for Naim in collaboration with free-jazz icon Charlie Haden. Hell, even Elling himself drops in for a few numbers. When The Heart Dances is available now on compact disc and Hi Def download.