(Vocal Jazz) Diana Panton - Red - 2013, MP3, 320

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 heartfelt renditions. "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, Wholenote Magazine)
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, seven 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.
Acclaim
Her name is Diana Panton and she has one of the loveliest voices I think I've ever heard ... (One of Tim's picks for the Top 5 Jazz Vocalists in Canada)
Tim Tamashiro, CBC's Tonic
... the gloriously gifted Diana Panton has quietly developed into one of Canada's premiere jazz vocalists.
TIm Perlich, CBC blogpost
Diana Panton est à mon avis l’un des trésors les mieux dissimulés du jazz canadien.
Frédéric Cardin, CBC/Radio Canada, espace.mu
It is truly a special treat to work with someone of Diana's artistry, natural jazz proclivities and professional business practices. Never mind the fact that our audiences `eat her up' live and then buy her recordings like crazy! Both of her northern visits celebrated over-sold shows.
Duncan Sinclair, President of Jazz Yukon
Aesthetically wonderful!
Dr. Yusef Lateef, saxophonist, Jazz in July
She brings to each song that perfect combination of words and music – words so naturally phrased they seem as easy as conversation, music so deliciously supported and coloured by a voice that can do whatever it wishes to express the deepest emotions.
Hugh Fraser, Hamilton Spectator
She’s so soulful … I know she means every word she sings.
Sheila Jordan, Vocalist
Panton does, indeed, have a delightfully sweet (though never cloying) sound, a tonal purity that is arrestingly beautiful.
Christopher Loudon, JazzTimes Magazine
Hearing Diana’s voice is like catching the sound of a thrush in the middle of a long Canadian winter: it’s warm, sweet and pure.
Katie Malloch, previous host of CBC's Tonic
Among the many new vocal stars on the jazz scene today, Diana Panton has special charms.
Kazutomi Aoki, Japan’sJAZZLIFE
She really knocked me out (the first time I heard her sing). She was so young but she had a lot of real feeling. It surprised me right away.
Don Thompson, pianist, bassist, vibraphonist
… Panton is surely one of Hamilton’s best-kept musical secrets.
Leonard Turnevicius, Hamilton Spectator
If the post isn’t already taken, I’d like to nominate Diana Panton as Canada’s jazz sweetheart.
Cathy Riches, WholeNote Magazine[listening to Diana sing]I got the same feeling the first time I heard singers like Sheila [Jordan], Lee Wiley (at the 1954 Newport Jazz Festival), Helen Merrill and Irene Kral.
Len Dobbin, “Masterworks”Award for radio
Diana Panton is one of Canada’s finest singers, and I was pleased to feature her with her band at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival here in NY this past June (2014) to great reviews by our patrons. I highly recommend her for your festival!
John Nugent, Producer/Artistic Director

As a follow-up to her critically acclaimed "pink" album (2011 Silver Disc Award Winner in Japan) about first love, Diana Panton’s "red" album is a profound expression about deeper love. Diana leads a stellar group of Canada’s finest musicians from both the classical and jazz worlds in the creation of an album of rare beauty and emotional intensity. Don Thompson (Order of Canada) specially tailored string quartet arrangements, plus harp to compliment Panton’s ethereal voice. Phil Dwyer’s saxophone (2012 JUNO Award Winner) provides a wonderful counterpoint to Panton’s pure vocals and underscores the sensuality of much of the album. Don Thompson, Reg Schwager and Jim Vivian round out the ensemble with sensitive performances. There is also a delectable duet with bluesman Harrison Kennedy that has unbeatable chemistry! RED was also selected as a Top Vocal Album of 2013 by Peter Hum (Ottawa Citizen) and Paul Pearce (Cool Jazz Set 90.1). It spent 10 weeks at Number 1 on the jazz sales chart in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Diana demonstrates the impressive ability to discover quality songs which have not been over-recorded. She told me that she used to borrow many CDs and cassettes from the library and enjoyed listening to them whilst in high school - the track selection on this album is a testament to how well she did her homework on that repertoire. In addition, this is her first recording with strings. The superb string arrangements by Don Thompson are worthy of special mention.
Keizo Takada, from the liner notes of the Japanese release
Don Thompson's elegant musical arrangements remind me of the jazz albums produced by Claus Ogerman, and the guitar and saxophone sound so warm and tender. This collection of love songs covers the excitement and anxiety of love and Diana's message in the liner notes "This album is best paired with someone you love" perfectly sums up her intention for this album.
Toru Hashimoto from the liner notes of the Japanese release
Diana Panton continues to captivate and enthral her fans with magical moments and swinging grooves. Her latest recording, RED, is right at the top of our list of 2013's "Best Jazz Recordings."
Paul Pearce, Cool Jazz Set, WDCE-FM
Quand Diana chante, on se sent invité à partager des secrets. Si la chanteuse en est encore un pour beaucoup de gens, dépêchez-vous de le révéler à votre tour!
Frédéric Cardin, Espace.mu
[Read the full review]
... I am a big fan of this recording. It's a pleasure to experience a musical project that grew so surely and elegantly from concept to execution, and that brings together such talented artists as these.
Katie Malloch (excerpt from the liner notes)
Diana Panton's new release has a wonderfully nostalgic vibe offering up jazz standards with an acoustic sound, some tracks featuring strings and others saxophone. Included in the song list are two of Ivan Lins’ classics: The Island and Love Dance which are refreshing accents, providing colour and textural variety to the album. Diana has a special affinity for Brazilian music. Diana’s vocals express subtleties of feeling and her sweet tone compliments the elegant jazz sound very well. This album fills the listener with a gentle happiness.
CD Journal, Japan
Holly Cole, Diana Krall, Sophie Milman … Canada has introduced some big names into the world of female vocal jazz so far. Now Diana Panton is poised to be the next star there. Often compared to Blossom Dearie, Diana sings gently like a sweet whisper, but this doesn’t mean that she simply lures us in with the calming atmosphere she creates. I can assure you that her technique as a singer is more solid than many vocalists who may present themselves as technical gymnasts. For Diana, her technique is rather a vehicle for expression, so that her musical message reaches the listener. Her prior album, pink had a theme of “new love”, and the romance has moved to the next level in this new album RED. Diana’s expression doesn’t lose any of its grace in communicating these mature love songs and further reveals her purity. In addition, the elegant sounding arrangements by Don Thompson, who has supported Diana since her debut, are truly superb.
Jazz Japan
This Canadian singer, Diana Panton, is a rising star in Asia too where she has topped the Jazz music charts in Hong Kong and Taiwan over Norah Jones and Diana Krall. This album with 13 fabulous tracks starts with “Say It (Over and Over Again)” which is also the opening song of Coltrane’s “Ballads”. Diana sings in a mellow tone, gently offering up her heartfelt lyrics to listeners. The string backing is elegant and the recording quality too, is exemplary. Alto sax, guitar, piano and vibes contribute very well and the enchanting vocals are further enriched by them. My "favourite" is the relaxing duo track “Make Yourself Comfortable”.
Jazz Life, Japan
The disc makes a strong impression from the get-go with a sumptuous version of the classic ballad Say It (Over and Over Again), introduced by Dwyer and strings, before Panton and Thompson’s piano carry the tune. Much variety follows, from the classy bossa of That’s All to the Shearingesque, vibes-bolstered arrangement of You’re The Top, from Make Yourself Comfortable, a slow, slinky duet with Harrison Kennedy enlivened by Schwager’s bluesy guitar, to You’re My Thrill [...]. Who Cares and the romping 24 Hours A Day are deeply swinging. From the Ivan Lins songbook come string-enriched versions of The Island and Love Dance.
Peter Hum, The Ottawa Citizen
Amazing, wondrous and emotive. This latest album proves that Diana Panton is not just a singer with a beautiful voice, but a singer capable of creating dreamily elegant music with profound depth.
AV Magazine, Hong Kong
[This] three-time Juno-nominee’s smooth delivery conjures a unique atmosphere on her most recent album, Red. Especially during bilingual songs, there is an overall vibration from another time and place — calm and peaceful rather than busy and bold.
Brian Gall, The Expositor
christmas kiss
to Brazil with Love
pink
if the moon turns green…
…yesterday perhaps

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