I'm big on sensitivity, so right off the bat vocalist Diana Panton had me with the first notes of her new album—Soft Winds and Roses (SRG). Her last recording, Blue (2022), was a mood work reflecting hard emotional times. On this one, the songs chosen have a gentle, talcum-soft feel that exposes her cheery side. Back with Diana is her equally sensitive duo: Reg Schwager on guitar and Don Thompson on piano, vibes and bass.
What I also love about Diana's voice is how moved she is about music and that she clearly passes into a zone when singing. I know because I wind up there myself when I'm writing. I don't hear anything or see anything, and hours can pass as if the time elapse had just been minutes. When Diana sings, she's swept up by her focus and artistic expression, and nothing else matters.
Best of all, there's a tenderness about her phrasing, a child-like innocence and wonderment about the world around her. It's her delight with simplicity and little things that enrich her approach. You're pulled in because her bewilderment feels so familiar.
I must say, I took a minute when I saw her song list on the jacket. I wasn't quite following the connection between the 14 tracks or why You and I was sharing space with How Deep Is Your Love. Only when I listened to the album did I understand what Diana was striving to accomplish: All are tender, precious songs about love that could easily have been sung whispered.
It's refreshing to hear these songs through Diana's perspective. Bernie Taupin's Your Song lyrics in Elton John's hands have a deliberate cockiness but with Diana, it's as if she's singing to a child. The same is true all of these songs, and the approach gives them a new personality and meaning. Gorgeous accompaniment by Don and Reg.
On Soft Winds and Roses, Diana, a two-time Juno winner in Canada, returns to a romantic style that captivates and intoxicates. With her voice, love is hopeful if you wish it so.
JazzWax tracks: Diana Panton's Soft Winds and Roses (SRG) can be heard on major streaming platforms or purchased here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Your Song...
Here's How Deep Is Your Love...
Here's Secret Heart...
And here's You and I (Vocé e Eu)...
What I also love about Diana's voice is how moved she is about music and that she clearly passes into a zone when singing. I know because I wind up there myself when I'm writing. I don't hear anything or see anything, and hours can pass as if the time elapse had just been minutes. When Diana sings, she's swept up by her focus and artistic expression, and nothing else matters.
Best of all, there's a tenderness about her phrasing, a child-like innocence and wonderment about the world around her. It's her delight with simplicity and little things that enrich her approach. You're pulled in because her bewilderment feels so familiar.
I must say, I took a minute when I saw her song list on the jacket. I wasn't quite following the connection between the 14 tracks or why You and I was sharing space with How Deep Is Your Love. Only when I listened to the album did I understand what Diana was striving to accomplish: All are tender, precious songs about love that could easily have been sung whispered.
It's refreshing to hear these songs through Diana's perspective. Bernie Taupin's Your Song lyrics in Elton John's hands have a deliberate cockiness but with Diana, it's as if she's singing to a child. The same is true all of these songs, and the approach gives them a new personality and meaning. Gorgeous accompaniment by Don and Reg.
On Soft Winds and Roses, Diana, a two-time Juno winner in Canada, returns to a romantic style that captivates and intoxicates. With her voice, love is hopeful if you wish it so.
JazzWax tracks: Diana Panton's Soft Winds and Roses (SRG) can be heard on major streaming platforms or purchased here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Your Song...
Here's How Deep Is Your Love...
Here's Secret Heart...
And here's You and I (Vocé e Eu)...
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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