The summer sun is frying the concrete kingdom. Sweltering heat is parboiling millions of psyches around you. Tiny personal universes are collapsing under the dark matter of incessant stimuli. It's probably time to flee the city, but like many urbanites, you don't own a car. So book a rental: Fill it with fishing poles, folding bikes, cold beer, beach towels, books, and other chill factors. Bring these five songs and crank the factory-installed stereo in your getaway car.
Read and hear more entries in the Take Five: A Weekly Jazz Sampler series.
This list is also in the Road Trip: Songs to Drive By series.
Copyright 2008 WBGO