Five for the Road is a look at the compact discs and / or downloads that have been in my car recently – some new, some old.

Guitarist David Gilmore (not the Pink Floyd guitarist David GilMOUR) has been prolific as a sideman, composer and educator. Leader? Not as much. But when he’s gotten around to making a record, it’s made an impact. You May Also Like: Terry Bozzio, David Gilmore, Jose James + others: Five forRead More

The brilliant pianist from Cuba Aruán Ortiz made a strong positive impression to anyone who paid attention to his 2010 release Alameda, a sophisticated outing of modern jazz that eludes adequate comparisons. You May Also Like: Aruan Ortiz, with Andrew Cyrille + Mauricio Herrera – ‘Inside Rhythmic Falls’ (2020) JamesRead More

The keyboardist is a Mexican expatriate living in Prague, the drummer is an Argentinian expatriate living in Mexico, the acoustic bassist is a Mexican still in Mexico and the guitarist is a guy from New York. You May Also Like: Nate Lepine, “Hennies” from Quartet: Vortices (2016): Something Else! exclusiveRead More

Despite his heritage, American alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa didn’t start out as a practitioner of a unique blend of American jazz and traditional Indian music, he started with the jazz style of the America he grew up in and worked his way back to the music of his forbears’ nativeRead More