Diana Panton - Christmas Kiss

Styles: Vocal, Christmas
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:57
Size: 143,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:32)  1. Kissing By the Mistletoe
(4:44)  2. Baby It's Cold Outside
(4:00)  3. Christmas Kiss
(2:51)  4. Winter Weather
(3:27)  5. C'est Noel Cheri (M'ami)
(3:55)  6. Winter Wonderland
(5:18)  7. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
(5:22)  8. December
(3:32)  9. Snowbound
(4:47) 10. Winter Warm
(3:52) 11. The Christmas Waltz
(4:34) 12. Christmas Time Is Here
(3:22) 13. Let It Snow! / C'est L'hiver
(4:43) 14. Images of Christmas
(2:50) 15. Douce Nuit / Silent Night

With a purr as smooth as whipped egg nog, Panton makes Christmas Kiss a sprig of audio mistletoe, backed by the light touch of jazz trio trumpeter Guido Basso, guitarist Reg Schwager and Don Thompson on bass, piano and vibraphone. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Kiss-Diana-Panton/dp/B009E313Y6

Christmas Kiss

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Diana Panton - Solstice/Equinox

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2017
Time: 64:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 150,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:42) 1. They Say It's Spring
(6:14) 2. The Heather On The Hill
(4:10) 3. Up Jumped Spring
(4:21) 4. That Sunday, That Summer
(6:25) 5. Estate
(6:06) 6. Manhattan
(4:38) 7. La Fin Des Vacances
(4:47) 8. September In The Rain (Septembre Sous La Pluie)
(4:39) 9. Tis Autumn
(5:36) 10. Septembre
(4:49) 11. Cloudy Morning
(3:37) 12. I Like Snow
(4:32) 13. By The Fireside

Diana Panton is one of the brightest lights on the jazz scene today. Her work has been consistently praised by listeners and music critics alike for her ethereal vocals, exceptional song selection and raw emotional intensity.

Panton's keen aesthetic sense attracted the attention of some of the jazz world's most respected masters, including Don Thompson (Officer of the Order of Canada) and Reg Schwager (Member of the Order of Canada) who together form her regular trio. "When the great singer Sheila Jordan said, Diana Panton 'sounds like the sweetest bird you'll ever hear', she helped define some of the ephemeral delicacy that marks Panton as unique." (Stuart Broomer, Toronto Life)

Before recording her first album, Panton completed an Honours Master's degree in French literature and fulfilled a teaching engagement at the University of Paris (France), followed by a position as a French Sessional Lecturer at McMaster University (Canada). She studied art in Paris and currently teaches French Immersion Art at Westdale Secondary (Canada).

When the time finally arrived to release her first solo album (2005), the late great Montreal jazz critic Len Dobbin called ...yesterday perhaps one of the finest debut CDs he had heard in years! It landed Diana on the covers of VIEW and NOW Magazine and the album made NOW's TOP 10 Discs of the Year. The album was also awarded a Silver Disc Award upon its release in Japan in 2011.

Since her initial CD release, Panton’s impressive catalogue of internationally acclaimed self-produced albums have garnered numerous honours, including two JUNO wins, a second Silver Disc Award in Japan, seven JUNO nominations, nine Hamilton Music Awards, a host of National Jazz Award nominations, Canadian and American Independent Music Award nominations, including Best Audiophile Recording at the Rocky Mountain International HiFi Press Awards. Panton was a first-place jury-selection to perform at the Jazz à Juan Révélations in France where she was voted Première Dauphine by the Juan public.

Panton’s albums have topped the charts on Amazon and iTunes in Canada and the US, the HMV chart in Hong Kong and Japan and Books.com in Taiwan. I Believe in Little Things charted simultaneously on Billboard's Jazz and Children's Music Charts and went to Number 1 on Amazon.com's Movers and Shakers Chart for the highest percentage increase of sales (in any genre) within a 24-hour period, following an interview on NPR. Her albums have made the year-end lists of ICI Musique, NOW Magazine, Library School Journal, The Hamilton Spectator, DownBeat Magazine, etc.

Panton’s much-anticipated blue release (2022) is the final chapter in a trilogy of works that began with pink (2009 / Silver Disc Award Winner in Japan), followed by RED (2015 JUNO Winner). The release dates span over a decade and chart an ultimately ill-fated relationship. Lauded for her exceptional song selection, blue showcases Panton at the height of her interpretive powers. Don Thompson sculpts bespoke arrangements around Panton's emotive vocals, featuring stirring accompaniment by the renowned Penderecki String Quartet, plus bassist Jim Vivian with spectacular solos by Phil Dwyer, Reg Schwager and Thompson himself. Listeners who appreciate musical excellence and feeling in music will be rewarded.

Panton is the recipient of a 2022 Hamilton Arts Creator Award nomination, a 2019 Significant Person Award (Hamilton), a 2018 Westdale Wall of Distinction inductee, the 2017 Woman of Distinction in Arts/Culture/Design by the Hamilton YWCA, the 2017 OSSTF Wayne Clark Teaching Award, a 2017 Hamilton Wentworth District School Board's Profiling Excellence distinction, the 2016 Hamilton Arts Award for Music. She has been a featured host on CBC Radio. Previous Tonic radio host Tim Tamashiro named her one of Canada’s TOP 5 Jazz Vocalists and the listenership at JAZZ.FM voted Panton onto their list of the Top 25 of Canada's Most Significant Jazz Musicians.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/diana-panton/

Solstice/Equinox

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Diana Panton - Red

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:30
Size: 141,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:13)  1. Say It (Over and Over Again) [feat. Phil Dwyer]
(4:00)  2. That's All (feat. Don Thompson)
(4:10)  3. You're the Top (feat. Reg Schwager)
(4:41)  4. You're My Thrill (feat. Phil Dwyer)
(4:32)  5. Make Yourself Comfortable (feat. Reg Schwager)
(3:34)  6. 24 Hours a Day (feat. Phil Dwyer)
(5:37)  7. The Island (feat. Phil Dwyer with strings)
(4:26)  8. Isn't That the Thing To Do (feat. Don Thompson)
(3:36)  9. Who Cares? (feat. Phil Dwyer)
(5:53) 10. Love Dance (feat. Reg Schwager)
(5:06) 11. I Know Why and So Do You (feat. Red Schwager)
(4:07) 12. I Only Love Because of You (feat. Don Thompson)
(5:29) 13. Amazing (feat. Don Thompson)

As a follow-up to her critically acclaimed pink album about the twists and turns of new love (2011 Silver Disc Award Winner in Japan), Diana Panton’s red album is an exploration about deeper love. Don Thompson's (Order of Canada) specially tailored string quartet arrangements, plus harp compliment Panton’s honest delivery, while Phil Dwyer’s saxophone (2012 JUNO Award Winner) underscores the sensuality of much of the album. There is also a delectable duet with bluesman Harrison Kennedy that has unbeatable chemistry! http://www.amazon.ca/Red-Diana-Panton/dp/B00EZ3WIW6

Personnel: Diana Panton – vocal; Don Thompson - piano, vibes; Reg Schwager – guitar; Phil Dwyer – saxophone; Jim Vivian – bass; Harrison Kennedy - vocal (track 5); Moshe Hammer - first violin; Praise Lam - second violin; Diane Leung – viola; Coenraad Bloemendal – cello; Erica Goodman - harp

Red

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Diana Panton - Blue

Styles: Vocal
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:50
Size: 149,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:13) 1. Where Do You Start?/once Upon A Time
(4:01) 2. Yesterday
(3:42) 3. Without Your Love
(4:16) 4. Losing My Mind
(3:08) 5. This Will Make You Laugh
(4:33) 6. The Trouble With Hello Is Goodbye
(3:47) 7. I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life
(3:54) 8. To Say Goodbye
(5:22) 9. Meaning Of The Blues
(2:14) 10. I'll Only Miss Him When I Think Of Him
(5:52) 11. It's Always 4 Am
(5:08) 12. Just Sometimes
(2:17) 13. How Did He Look?
(3:27) 14. Nobody's Heart
(4:12) 15. Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year
(2:36) 16. You Are There

Two-time JUNO Award winner Diana Panton has established herself as one of the brightest lights on the international jazz scene, a songbird praised by listeners, musicians, and critics alike for her thoughtful song selection and emotional intensity. Diana is pleased to announce the October 28 release of her tenth album, blue.

Blue represents the culminating gesture in a musical narrative of romance that began with pink (2009 JUNO nominee in Canada and Silver Disc Award winner in Japan), followed by RED (2015 JUNO winner). With release dates spanning more than a decade, this trilogy charts the emotional arc of an ill-fated romantic relationship. The eponymous colours symbolically suggest content: pink is the infatuation of first-time love, RED, the passion of true love, and blue, the heartbreak and mystery of love lost.

"The release dates were deliberately spread over a decade from the first to the final album in the trilogy in order for the music to better reflect different stages in a relationship," says Diana Panton. "I knew that my voice and perspective would be more mature if I waited to record the blue album a little later in my life."

blue showcases Diana Panton, exuding confidence and completely in command of her interpretive powers. Her lustrous, evocative vocals are backed by the artistry of four longtime musical colleagues who made significant contributions to the beauty and passion of the RED album of 2015. The four include three Order of Canada honourees: tenor saxophonist Phil Dwyer C.M., guitarist Reg Schwager C.M., and pianist/arranger Don Thompson O.C., plus first-call bassist Jim Vivian. The sonic landscape of blue also features the extraordinary talents of the Penderecki String Quartet, who acquired their name in 1986 upon the invitation of the great Polish composer himself.

Diana Panton's tenth release is not a casual listen, but a penetrating delve into feelings that accompany the fragments of a broken relationship. "Where Do You Start?" shows that Panton knows precisely where to start, and that is by delivering the pure, unaccompanied poetry of her beautiful, clear voice with its bold superiority of interpretation and intonation. Pianist Don Thompson provides his own musical commentary to the quixotically titled "Where Do You Start?" and the pair segues into the haunting strains of the popular song from the '60s, "Once Upon a Time."

Highlighting his interpretative gifts as a composer/arranger and pianist, talents required to create the unfiltered emotive content permeating blue, is Don Thompson's work on "The Trouble with Hello is Goodbye." This song from the '70s showcases the Penderecki String Quartet's artistry, features a supremely emotive sax improv by Phil Dwyer, and underpins Diana Panton's uncomplicated, honest way with a musical phrase.

In "To Say Goodbye," Panton dips into the rich lower register of her vocal range to capture the profound sadness of the song's lyrics, an expression so true that the listener instinctively feels she is living every word. Also noteworthy is Diana Panton's interpretation of Norma Winstone's poignant lyrics for "Just Sometimes," inspiring another flawless solo from tenor saxophonist Phil Dwyer.

In command of a keen aesthetic sense, Diana Panton has attracted the attention of some of the jazz world's most respected masters. When legendary multi-instrumentalist Don Thompson first heard the nineteen-year-old Diana sing, with unabashed enthusiasm he urged her to audition for the renowned Banff Centre for the Arts Jazz Workshop. It was there that she studied under Norma Winstone, and, in subsequent visits, with Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton.

When the time arrived for her to go into the recording studio, award-winning guitarist Reg Schwager was invited to join Don Thompson in laying down a collaborative sound that has proved to be, on all of her albums, the perfect setting for the delicate nuance of Diana's pure vocals. The late, great jazz critic Len Dobin called the product of that first session, ...yesterday perhaps, one of the finest debut albums he had heard in years.

Since the release of that first album in 2005, Diana Panton's career has gathered astounding momentum, drawing international acclaim for her nine albums and the impressive variety and quality of her catalogue of songs. The numerous honours garnered include JUNO Awards for RED in 2015 and I Believe in Little Things in 2017, two Silver Disc Awards in Japan, seven JUNO nominations, nine Hamilton Music Awards, and a host of National Jazz Award nominations and Canadian and American independent music award nominations.

I Believe in Little Things charted simultaneously on Billboard's Jazz and Children's Music charts and went to #1 on Amazon's "Movers and Shakers" chart, following an interview on NPR. The album received a four-star review in DownBeat magazine and was one of their Best Albums of 2016. Panton's albums have made the year-end lists of ICI Musique, NOW Magazine, Jazz Critique Magazine, the Montreal Mirror, and DownBeat, among others, and, in addition to reaching #1 on Amazon and iTunes in Canada and the US, have made bestseller lists in Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan.
By Michael Major https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Diana-Panton-Announces-New-Album-blue-20220912

Personnel: Diana Panton – Vocals, Producer; Phil Dwyer – Saxophone; Reg Schwager – Guitar; Don Thompson – Piano, Arranger; Jim Vivian – Bass; Penderecki String Quartet:; Jerzy Kaplanek – Violin; Jeremy Bell – Violin; Christine Vlajk – Viola; Katie Schlaikjer – Cello

Blue

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Diana Panton - Pink

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:55
Size: 143,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:52)  1. Wouldn't It Be Loverly
(3:57)  2. My Ideal
(4:05)  3. I Walk A Little Faster
(4:21)  4. My Future Just Passed
(2:44)  5. Wonder Why
(2:34)  6. Me Myself And I
(4:03)  7. What Is There To Say?
(4:23)  8. Tea For Two
(3:46)  9. Please Be Kind
(6:02) 10. Fly By Night
(4:50) 11. I Wish I Knew
(3:36) 12. They Didn't Believe Me
(4:36) 13. Love-wise
(3:24) 14. Hold Me Hold Me Hold Me
(3:43) 15. Five Minutes More
(1:51) 16. Wait Till You See Him

Diana Panton's 3rd release 'Pink' stays the course she plotted with her first two well-received albums. She's working once again with a small group, although when one of the band members is genius multi-instrumentalist Don Thompson you get a lot of bang for your musician buck. Reg Schwager is also back, accompanying with his customary artful and sensitive playing. A new addition, and a completely fitting one given Panton's languid style, is trumpet and flugelhorn player, Guido Basso. His fills and solos add rich warmth to the mix, like honey drizzled over an English muffin, filling in all the nooks and crannies. For this new album Diana has carefully chosen a collection of well-crafted songs that she can mine for lyrical gold. She is foremost a story teller - not a flashy or emotionally overwrought singer - Diana simply and deftly presents the songs so the listener can take them in without being distracted by vocal pyrotechnics. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Pink-Diana-Panton-Trio-1/dp/B002UMF1FU

Personnel: Vocals – Diana Panton; Bass, Piano, Vibraphone – Don Thompson ; Cornet, Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Guido Basso; Guitar – Reg Schwager

Pink

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Diana Panton - To Brazil With Love

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:46
Size: 151,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:00)  1. Samba Saravah
(4:05)  2. This Happy Madness
(1:55)  3. The Telephone Song
(5:24)  4. Manha de Carnaval
(3:29)  5. So Nice
(4:21)  6. Is It Really You?
(4:01)  7. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
(5:28)  8. Daus Mon Ile
(4:41)  9. Felicidade
(4:21) 10. Tu Sais Je Vais T'aimen
(3:41) 11. Dreamer
(4:44) 12. And I Love Him
(4:40) 13. Fuis Comme L'Oiseau
(6:52) 14. Que Reste Toil de Nos Amours?

Early on in her still relatively nascent career, Canadian vocalist Diana Panton had the great fortune, and good sense, to align herself with two outstanding jazz countrymen, multi-instrumentalist Don Thompson and guitarist Reg Schwager. It was Thompson who encouraged her to study at the Banff Centre, where her instructors included Norma Winstone, Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton. Jordan has since likened Panton’s voice to “the sweetest bird you’ll ever hear.” Thompson and Schwager have been guiding forces on all her albums, including this, her fourth. Also onboard, alternating rudders to this sleek schooner, are Brazilian drummers and percussionists Maninho Costa and Silas Silva. Panton does, indeed, have a delightfully sweet (though never cloying) sound, a tonal purity that is arrestingly beautiful. She is also a skilled linguist her day job is teaching French making this cross-cultural exploration all the more intriguing, and pleasurable. She serves up Brazilian gems in Portuguese (a sun-dappled “Samba Saravah” and buttery “Manha De Carnaval”) and English (the frisky “Telephone Song” and ebullient “So Nice”), augmented by French interpretations of “Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar” and “Você Abusou” and a bilingual (French/English) “A Felicidade.” Additionally, she unfurls an exquisite “And I Love Her,” soft as a moonbeam, and, with Thompson’s assistance, makes an impressive songwriting debut with the gently swaying “Is It Really You?” ~ Christopher Loudon   http://jazztimes.com/articles/29393-to-brazil-with-love-diana-panton

To Brazil With Love

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Diana Panton - Yesterday Perhaps

Styles: Vocal

Year: 2007

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 58:17

Size: 134,0 MB

Art: Front

(4:42)  1. That Old Feeling

(5:05)  2. Dindi

(3:21)  3. Plus Je T'embrasse

(5:23)  4. I'm A Fool To Want You

(4:37)  5. Isn't This A Lovely Day?

(4:04)  6. Summer Me, Winter Me

(4:18)  7. I Didn't Know What Time It Was

(2:48)  8. Les Feuilles Mortes

(4:11)  9. This Is Always

(3:37) 10. You Hit The Spot

(3:42) 11. I Get Along Without You

(4:52) 12. For All We Know

(3:08) 13. Stars Fell On Alabama

(2:27) 14. You'd Better Go Now

(3:21) 15. In The Wee Small Hours

2005 was a great year for “…yesterday perhaps”! The album was named one of the TOP 10 releases of the year by Len Dobbin (Montreal Mirror), Tim Perlich (Toronto’s NOW Magazine) and Dan Sich (!earshot). It was a highlight in year-end reviews by Ric Taylor (VIEW Magazine) and Leonard Turnevicius (Hamilton Spectator). Diana was nominated for four Hamilton Music Scene Awards and won for “Best Jazz Recording” and the People’s Choice Award for “Best Live Performance” (thanks to all who voted). In 2011, ...yesterday perhaps was awarded a Silver Disc Award by Jazz Critique Magazine upon its release in Japan.

Canadian jazz vocalist Diana Panton has already released three albums in Japan. She is not an overdramatic singer. The charm of her singing style can be found in its unique soft expressiveness. Her music can soothe you even when listening in a casual way. This comforting quality found in her singing is one of the causes of her popularity. I'm happy that her previously unavailable debut album has finally been released in Japan, and above all, I am very satisfied with the quality of the album. Reg Schwager's guitar is very beautiful and Diana has a great chemistry with Don Thompson's piano too. The album gives warmth to a cold winter's night. ~ Hijiri Kanno, Jazz Life  http://www.dianapanton.com/releases-yesterday.html

Personnel:  Diana Panton - vocal;  Reg Schwager - guitar;  Don Thompson - bass, piano, vibes

Yesterday Perhaps

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Diana Panton - A Cheerful Little Earful

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:29
Size: 123,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:58)  1. Happy Talk
(3:11)  2. It's A Most Unusual Day
(2:32)  3. A You're Adorable
(3:52)  4. Red Red Robin
(2:55)  5. I Don't Want to Live On the Moon
(3:28)  6. Cheerful Little Earful
(3:16)  7. If You Feel Like Singing Sing
(3:15)  8. Music and Me
(3:46)  9. Pocketful of Miracles
(5:28) 10. Look to the Rainbow
(3:43) 11. All In the Golden Afternoon
(2:43) 12. Experiment
(3:55) 13. Aren't You Glad You're You
(3:11) 14. Sing A Rainbow
(4:10) 15. Hush-A-Bye Island

The graphics on A Cheerful Little Earful by Diana Panton and, to a certain extent, this title as well may cue a “children’s record”, but make no mistake Miss Panton’s gorgeous winter 2019 release will have a much broader appeal. The “cheerful little earful” evokes the joy of music really. It also brings together repertoire that celebrates the creativity of timeless song from an era that is all but lost to us in an age when every recording musician seems compelled to pen his or her own songs. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, there is nothing like the eternal magic of song that lives and breathes and is aglow in the Great American Songbook; songs from timeless films and Broadway hits written by masters such as Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers, Sammy Cahn and Jimmy van Heusen, “Yip” Harburg and Burton Lane, and Cole Porter among others. More to the point, there’s nothing like the eternal magic of this repertoire sung by Diana Panton, with the great musicianship of Don Thompson and Reg Schwager accompanying her along the way. As ever on A Cheerful Little Earful Miss Panton is on top of her game. She gives notice throughout that she is an artist of the first order.

Her instrument is gorgeous; lustrous, precise and feather-light. Her musicianship is also fierce as she digs into the meaning of each word, brings ceaseless variety to soft dynamics and gives every phase grace. As ever, in everything she sings on yet another magnificent disc, Miss Panton brings narratives vividly to life and creates rhapsodic atmosphere. Songs such as “Pocketful of Miracles” and “Look To The Rainbow” are exquisite examples of everything that is timeless and great about Miss Panton’s musicianship. Miss Panton has the unique privilege of enjoying the extraordinary musicianship of Don Thompson, the veritable doyen of Canadian music; as well she has been fortunate to have the masterful guitarist Reg Schwager on each of her albums. Mr Thompson – whether as the arranger of note or whether on piano, bass or vibraphone – and Mr Schwager both bring deeply interiorised readings of this music. This complements the vision and artistry of Miss Panton in a matchless way. This music, as with that of her other albums, is light on melancholy, and saturated with the imaginative and luminous colour of joy. These, and other reasons mentioned in the course of this review make A Cheerful Little Earful an irresistible record, one that is likely to also garner many accolades as it gets its rightful due on radio and other media.~ Raul Gama https://torontomusicreport.com/reviews/cd-reviews/diana-panton-a-cheerful-little-earful/

Personnel: Diana Panton: vocals; Reg Schwager: guitar; Don Thompson: bass, piano and vibraphone

A Cheerful Little Earful

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Diana Panton - If The Moon Turns Green

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:18
Size: 140.3 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[3:21] 1. Destination Moon
[3:18] 2. I'm Old Fashioned
[2:44] 3. It's Like Reaching For The Moon
[4:35] 4. If The Moon Turns Green
[3:37] 5. Reaching For The Moon
[5:08] 6. Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars
[4:54] 7. Moonlight Serenade
[3:25] 8. There Ought To Be A Moonlight Savings Time
[3:26] 9. A Litte Girl A Little Boy A Little Moon
[3:43] 10. Moon And Sand
[2:52] 11. I've Told Ev'ry Little Star
[3:27] 12. A Handful Of Stars
[3:49] 13. Oh You Crazy Moon
[4:59] 14. So Many Stars
[4:25] 15. Fly Me To The Moon
[3:28] 16. Moon River

Diana Panton has quietly become one of the brightest lights on the jazz scene today. Her work has been consistently praised by listeners and music critics alike for her ethereal vocals, exceptional song selection and emotional intensity. "Her diaphanous vocal sound never insists and her high speed vibrato is like the beat of a hummingbird's heart - natural, untainted and pure." ~Lesley Mitchell-Clarke

If The Moon Turns Green 

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Diana Panton - I Believe in Little Things

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:48
Size: 125,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:58)  1. In a World of My Own
(5:37)  2. Alice in Wonderland
(4:15)  3. Pure Imagination
(3:31)  4. Imagination
(4:42)  5. Sing
(3:19)  6. I’m Going to Go Back There Someday
(3:19)  7. The Rainbow Connection
(2:48)  8. Little Things
(5:48)  9. When You Wish Upon a Star
(2:12) 10. Halfway Down the Stairs
(3:38) 11. Everybody Sleeps
(4:53) 12. Sleep Is a Precious Thing
(4:14) 13. Hushabye Mountain
(2:26) 14. Slumber My Darling

I Believe in Little Things highlights Diana Panton's enchanting vocals on obscure gems and children's classics from Disney, Sesame Street, Willa Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with a unique jazz twist. Don Thompson, Reg Schwager and Coenraad Bloemendal provide delightful accompaniment to Diana's sweet voice. Although destined for children, this album speaks to the child in all of us. There is a carefree aura of freedom and hope in this gentle musical world where dreams can come true. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Believe-Little-Things-Diana-Panton/dp/B013RCQROU

Personnel:  Vocals – Diana Panton;  Bass, Piano, Vibraphone – Don Thompson;  Cello – Coenraad Bloemendal;  Guitar – Reg Schwager

I Believe in Little Things

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Peter Appleyard - Sophisticated Ladies

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:12
Size: 106,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:35)  1. Peter Appleyard Feat. Emilie-Claire Barlow - After You've Gone
(3:33)  2. Peter Appleyard Feat. Elizabeth Shepherd - It's Only A Paper Moon
(4:09)  3. Peter Appleyard Feat. Jill Barber - Love For Sale
(6:32)  4. Peter Appleyard Feat. Jackie Richardson - Georgia On My Mind
(5:23)  5. Peter Appleyard Feat. Sophie Milman - If You Could See Me Now
(5:02)  6. Peter Appleyard Feat. Molly Johnson - Sophisticated Lady
(4:03)  7. Peter Appleyard Feat. Carol Welsman - Night And Day
(4:12)  8. Peter Appleyard Feat. Barbra Lica - Satin Doll
(5:30)  9. Peter Appleyard Feat. Carol McCartney - Mood Indigo
(4:10) 10. Peter Appleyard Feat. Diana Panton - Smile

Peter Appleyard seems to have a way with the ladies. The octogenarian vibraphonist brings his virile mallet work to bear while escorting a dozen lovely songbirds through some smartly arranged standards on this, his second release the span of a few months. Appleyard started off the year by looking toward the past, issuing a previously unreleased all-star jam session from 1974, but his gaze is firmly on the present throughout Sophisticated Ladies. He hobnobs with some of the finest vocalists operating north of the 49th parallel today and a sense of mutual respect for the music and one another comes through in the music. 

While astute jazz vocal fans are probably aware that bassist Charlie Haden beat Appleyard to the conceptual punch, releasing his own Sophisticated Ladies (Emarcy, 2011) a year ahead of Appleyard, the basic format and album title are the only thing that these two releases share. Haden's album mixed instrumental pieces and vocal numbers, favoring slow material containing string sweetening and came off as a mostly-manicured set of music with mellow appeal. Appleyard, on the other hand, shares the stage with a singer on every song, covering a wider range of emotions. The playlist has no surprises, but Rick Wilkins' arrangements have their fair share. Tempo changes, funk-to-swing shifts ("Love For Sale"), double-time adjustments, Brazilian-tinged turns and intimate introductions ("Smile") keep things interesting. Each singer brings something different to the table and Appleyard responds in kind by shaping his solos around the specific songs and singers. 

Emilie-Claire Barlow shows great range on the slow-to-fast "After You've Gone," Elizabeth Shepherd engages Appleyard in a scat-vibraphone solo trading session, Jackie Richardson's deeply resonant voice takes center stage on a soulful "Georgia On My Mind," Diana Panton turns the lights down low for "Smile" and Sophie Milman takes her time fleshing out the emotional ideals of "If You Could See Me Now." Molly Johnson, who interprets the title track with her smoky and dusky pipes, proves to be the only singer who seems ill-suited to her number. The female musicians on this album will probably get the lion's share of attention, but Appleyard has top billing for a reason. His vibraphone soloing enlivens and enhances the music. Guitarist Reg Schwager's comping is a key ingredient in the mix, as pianist John Sherwood takes the right tack on every tune, drummer Terry Clarke expertly navigates the through each number and bassist Neil Swainson keeps everything in check.  Appleyard may be 84 now, but his playing doesn't betray that fact. He's clearly young at heart and Sophisticated Ladies is the evidence that proves this case. ~ Dan Bilawsky   

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=42527#.UwelFoVZhls

Personnel: Peter Appleyard: vibraphone; John Sherwood: piano; Reg Schwager: guitar; Neil Swainson: bass; Terry Clarke: drums; Emilie-Claire Barlow: vocals (1); Elizabeth Shepherd: vocals (2); Jill Barber: vocals (3); Jackie Richardson: vocals (4); Sophie Milman: vocals (5); Molly Johnson: vocals (6); Carol Welsman: vocals (7), piano (7); Barbara Lica: vocals (8); Carol McCartney: vocals (9); Diana Panton: vocals (10).

Sophisticated Ladies

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Diana Panton - If The Moon Turns Green…

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:56
Size: 142,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:24)  1. Destination Moon
(3:21)  2. I'm Old Fashioned
(2:46)  3. It's Like Reaching for the Moon
(4:37)  4. If the Moon Turns Green
(3:39)  5. Reaching for the Moon
(5:10)  6. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars
(4:57)  7. Moonlight Serenade
(3:28)  8. There Ought To Be a Moonlight Saving Time
(3:29)  9. A Little Girl A Little Boy A Little Moon
(3:45) 10. Moon and Sand
(2:54) 11. I've Told Ev'ry Little Star
(3:29) 12. A Handful of Stars
(3:52) 13. Oh You Crazy Moon
(5:01) 14. So Many Stars
(4:28) 15. Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)
(3:29) 16. Moon River

Her keen aesthetic sense has attracted the attention of some of the jazz world’s most respected masters. When Order of Canada and legendary multi-instrumentalist Don Thompson first heard Panton sing at age 19, he recommended she audition for the reputed jazz workshop at the Banff Center for the Arts (Canada). There, she studied under Norma Winstone (and in subsequent visits, Jay Clayton and Sheila Jordan). "When the great singer Sheila Jordan said Diana Panton 'sounds like the sweetest bird you'll ever hear', she helped define some of the ephemeral delicacy that marks Panton as unique." (Stuart Broomer, Toronto Life)

Before recording her first album, Panton completed an Honours Masters degree in French literature and fulfilled a teaching engagement at the University of Paris (France), followed by a position as a French Sessional Lecturer at McMaster University (Canada). She then completed a teaching degree in French, Visual and Dramatic Arts which would eventually lead to her current position at Westdale Secondary (Canada).

When the time finally arrived to go into the studio, national award-winning guitarist Reg Schwager was invited to join Don Thompson for some stellar accompaniment behind Panton’s pure vocals. The late great Montreal jazz critic Len Dobbin called “...yesterday perhaps” one of the finest debut CDs he had heard in years! It landed Diana on the covers of VIEW and NOW Magazine and the album made NOW's TOP 10 Discs of the Year. The album was also awarded a Silver Disc Award upon its release in Japan in 2011. Since her initial CD release, Panton’s career has been gathering steady momentum. Her impressive catalogue of internationally acclaimed albums have garnered numerous honours, including a second Silver Disc Award in Japan, three JUNO nominations, 7 Hamilton Music Awards, a host of National Jazz Award nominations, Canadian and American Independent Music Award nominations. Her sophomore album, "if the moon turns green ..." was the first place jury-selection to perform at the Jazz à Juan Révélations where she was voted Première Dauphine by the Juan public. Most recently, she was named one of Canada’s TOP 5 Jazz Vocalists by CBC radio host Tim Tamashiro. One gets the feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg for Panton... this artist is on the brink of something big.  http://www.dianapanton.com/story.html

If The Moon Turns Green…

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