Matt Eakle, flutist for the David Grisman Quintet, steps out on his own with a debut CD of original instrumentals he calls “flute-fired fusion.”

It's an apt description. Anyone who has seen the San Anselmo musician perform with Grisman, one of the world's great mandolinists, is aware of the fiery passion he brings to his playing.

After 18 years with Grisman, though, he felt the need to express himself through his own music. And he's done that on the baker's dozen of tracks on “Hardly Work,” featuring Eakle on flutes and bass flute, pianist Joey Edelman and a rhythm section of bassist Alex Baum and drummer Jack Dorsey.

Eakle has played with Dorsey and Baum for some 30 years, most memorably a stint with

the late saxophonist Martin Fierro, to whom the CD is dedicated.

This is a deep groove band playing jazz fusion at the highest level, showcasing musicians who not only know how to play, but how to listen. Their solos are in the tradition of improvisation established by the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia. In fact, Eakle played with Garcia and Grisman as a special guest on all their CDs.

This is the kind of record you can lay back and listen hard to with headphones on, or put on as sophisticated background music at dinner parties.

What I like is the humanness that permeates this album, from the melodic invention of the tunes to the audible breathing and the ambient sound of musician's pouring their souls into their music.

As the CD title suggests, they're working hard but it's hardly work.

Buy It: “Hardly Work,” Matt Eakle Band, independent, $12.97, CD Baby.

Tell us about your band! If you're a musician or band from Marin or Sonoma with a recording that readers can buy or download, send your CD and contact information (if you have an upcoming gig, let us know that, too) to Press Play, P.O. Box 6150, Novato 94948-6150.