In 2008, he moved his family back to Michigan so he could teach full time. It's a natural progression, Hurst stresses. Although he's now dedicated to teaching, he's hardly storing his bass away. He has upcoming tours with trumpeter Nicholas Payton and vocalist Diana Krall, and he's putting together his first permanent band, which will include two of his students, saxophonist Marcus Miller and pianist Ian Finklestein.

Musically, the tunes Hurst performed on Bob Ya Head are the kind of music he's digging right now and wants to continue with. Yet, despite the bassist's aspirations and track record as a solo artist, he still considers himself a sideman at heart.

"Now my thing is reeling in what I want to do with my solo career. I will always be a sideman. I can't imagine not doing that. It's been one of the joys of my life."

The Robert Hurst Group is presented by the Jazz Network Foundation, Serengeti Galleries and the Arts League of Michigan at 8 and 10:30 p.m. on Friday, March 11, at the Virgil Carr Center, 311 E. Grand River Ave., Detroit; $20 at Ticketmaster and at the door; 313-965-8430. Hurst is part of a weekend of music at the Carr Center, which continues with Straight Ahead on Saturday and the Catalyst Quartet (Sphinx competition laureates and alums) on Sunday.

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