Paul Gable

Thankfully, there is finally a definitive Jaco Pastorius anthology that offers an accurate portrait of the breadth and depth of his innovative artistry beyond what his contributions to Weather Report and his own Word of Mouth and Trio of Doom (which many would argue are sufficient in and of themselves) would suggest. This two-CD, 28-track collection ranges across the fretless bass inventor's earliest recordings, documented by a live appearance with Wayne Cochran's C.C. Riders and home playing the Cochran standard "Amelia," to his work with underground R&B act Little Beaver and such artists as Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, Joni Mitchell in and out of the studio, Paul Bley, Airto and Flora Purim, Michel Columbier, Brian Melvin, and his diverse projects.

The sounds of Brazil are here to stay. ZEBRA Reconds is proud to present one of Rio's treasures: KENIA. The re-release of RIO/NEW YORK is a real celebration. It possesses the feel of hot Carnaval and smooth Samba with a passion for Jazz. Half the songs have been remixed and it sounds better than ever. KENIA, in the tradition of a true "Carioca" expresses herself in song with an emotion known as "Saudade", a love and longing for her native Brazil. When I first heard KENIA the sultriness of her voice was so mesmerizing yet forceful with an intriguing sensuality.

Not only was he one of the finest comedians America has ever produced, Jackie Gleason applied his prodigious talents to music as well. With a strong jazz roots background (leaning to mesmerized idolatry when dealing with good trumpet players), Gleason developed a chart-topping series of mood music albums in the '50s, citing his reason for their existence: "Every time I ever watched Clark Gable do a love scene in the movies, I'd hear this really pretty music, real romantic, come up behind him and help set the mood. So I'm figuring that if Clark Gable needs that kinda help, then a guy in Canarsie has gotta be dyin' for somethin' like this!"…