For every precocious teen upstart hyped as the next saviour of jazz music, there are hundreds of more talented musicians honing their craft away from the spotlight in clubs, basements and partially renovated loft spaces. This is the first in a series featuring breakout artists destined for award show triumphs and — who knows — feature spreads in glossy magazines.
Diana Panton
A dedicated Hamilton high school teacher by day, the gloriously gifted Diana Panton has quietly developed into one of Canada's premiere jazz vocalists. Her latest release, the breezy To Brazil With Love (eOne) is a sweetly seductive swing through samba and bossa nova with a French twist that well shows Panton's impeccable sense of taste and control. That the exquisitely executed recording with pianist Don Thompson and guitarist Reg Schwager, in addition to percussionists Maninho Costa and Silas Silva, recently earned Panton her second Juno nomination hasn't altered her career course – Panton has already finished the followup and will soon be returning to the studio to start work on the next.
Related links:
Diana Panton live at Glenn Gould Studio
Katie Malloch's Jazz Picks: Ballads Blues & Bey
A Valentine's kiss with with 'Moody's Mood for Love'
