Internationally renowned flutist HUBERT LAWS is one of the few classical artists who have also mastered jazz, pop, and rhythm and blues. Laws moves effortlessly between classical and jazz idioms, often performing classical works at jazz venues, and jazz in America's most renowned concert halls. He was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and has appeared as a soloist with the New York Philhar-monic and with the symphony orchestras of Dallas, Chicago, Cleveland, Amsterdam, Japan, and Detroit. He also has performed at the Montreux, Playboy, and Kool jazz festivals, and his Hollywood Bowl appearances have included concerts with the Modern Jazz Quartet and his fellow flutist, the late Jean-Pierre Rampal. He was voted the No. 1 flutist in Down Beat magazine critic's choice polls for seven consecutive years, and in 2003 he was honored by the National Flute Association with its Lifetime Achievement Award. In September 2004 he received a Tribute Award from UCLA along with Nancy Wilson, James Moody, and Gerald Wilson.

Laws' discography crosses borders as well, with recordings of classical works by Beethoven, Mozart, and others as well as his own jazz releases, including My Time Will Come and Storm then the Calm. He has done session work with such artists as Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Lena Horne, Sergio Mendes, Bob James, Carly Simon, and Clark Terry. His latest album, Moondance, was released in March 2004.

Born in Houston, Texas, Laws grew up across from a honky-tonk called Miss Mary's Place. His grandfather played the harmonica, and his mother played gospel music on the piano. His classical training got under way in high school. He later studied flute with Clement Barone and played saxophone with the Jazz Crusaders, and went on to win a scholarship to the Juilliard School, where his teacher was the renowned flutist Julius Baker.