America at 250: The Promise Series America's story has never been a straight line. It is the story of a promise—spoken in Philadelphia in 1776, tested on battlefields, challenged in courtrooms, carried through marches, defended by ordinary citizens, and passed from one generation to the next. As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, this series revisits the people and moments that have shaped that promise—and asks what it means for America today.

As America recognizes its 250th birthday, there will be no shortage of opportunities to celebrate our nation's history. There will be fireworks, concerts, patriotic speeches, and parades honoring the ideals that gave birth to the United States two and a half centuries ago.

Some albums announce themselves with fireworks. Then some albums simply settle into the room, invite you to stay awhile, and remind you why contemporary jazz continues to be one of music's most rewarding listening experiences. James "PJ" Spraggins' fifth studio release, High Five, is firmly in that second category.