Blue
Self-Released, 2022
8/10
The jazz vocalist and two-time Juno Award winner Diana Panton returns with her 10th album, where she aligns with the Penderecki Quartet, i.e. Jerzy Kaplanek (violin), Jeremy Bell (violin), Christine Vlajk (viola) and Katie Schlalker (cello) for a listen that’s themed around love lost.
“Where Do You Start?/Once Upon A Time” opens the affair with Panton’s gorgeous vocals alongside Don Thompson’s warm piano playing in the very poetic climate, and “Yesterday” follows with Reg Schwager’s agile guitar and the soothing strings making for a very graceful and emotive landscape.
Further on, “The Trouble With Hello Is Goodbye” benefits much from the charming piano and sweeping orchestra as Panton’s stunning voice is quite expressive, while “Just Sometimes” is very intimate, powerful and recruits Phil Dwyer’s soulful sax for the album highlight.
Deeper yet, the cozy guitar of “Nobody’s Heart” suits Panton’s elegant singing, and “You Are There” exits with a similar yearning that comprises most of the album, where the sophisticated piano and sublime vocals are front and center.
Panton’s voice is flawless as always, and the musicians backing her are in fine form, too, for the cathartic, reflective and timeless body of work.
Travels well with: Diana Panton- Solstice/Summer; Katie Dwyer Music- Let’s Move