Jonathan Smith is en route. The San Francisco born Portland jazz guitarist no sooner finished three decades as a career firefighter before launching his first recording project. The album title, en route, motions toward the firehouse with the radio phrase used for an emergency response, and also signifies the beginning of a new journey. Smith has been performing in public and private venues since 2000 and has long envisioned this CD. He sees jazz as an ever-evolving art form, and his desire is to refine his musical voice, both as player and composer. En route features a quintet comprised of musicians he has played with on various gigs but never before this session have they all played together. Smith selected these players not only for their musicianship but also for their ability to have fun with the music. The resulting album delivers solid and accessible jazz with something for every listener. Sidemen on this project were veteran pianist/composer/arranger Bo Ayars, a steadily performing player in Portland, OR; saxophonist Sam Solano, a multi-instrumentalist involved in many musical endeavors; in-demand NY bass player Robert Stragnell; and Matt Farina, another busy Portland musician, on drums. Bonus track Georgia on my Mind features Ollie McClay, another of Smith’s jazz colleagues, on vocals. The tunes include two originals and a mix of both familiar and semi-obscure jazz classics. In lieu of a lengthy narrative about the music, just sit back listen for yourself. Enjoy!