SPILL FEATURE: SOFT WINDS AND ROSES – A CONVERSATION WITH DIANA PANTON

SOFT WINDS AND ROSES

A CONVERSATION WITH DIANA PANTON

Diana Panton burst on the scene in 2005 with her debut album, . . . yesterday, perhaps. Her recent album, soft winds and roses, is her 15th album, and over the years she has received JUNO nominations, nine Hamilton Music Awards, and a host of National Jazz Award nominations and Canadian and American Independent Music award nominations.

I recently had the opportunity to ask Diana Panton some questions about her new album, soft winds and roses.

“I have released several compilation discs in Asia, and I am usually asked to include a bonus track of previously unreleased material. As it turned out, it was often a song that was a little more recent and recognizable. We had a lot of fun tackling these songs, which were a little outside our regular repertoire of music from the 1920s through to the ’50s. It was an interesting challenge to put our stamp on these modern classics through a jazz lens. This planted the seed for a full album composed of songs from the 1960s onward.”

Leaving her lots of songs to cover, it was interesting how she made the decision to interpret some big hits and other lesser-known songs.

“Since some of the songs were already decided before we began this project, it was a matter of fleshing things out. Which songs would lend themselves well to a jazz reinterpretation? Which could I deliver authentically? Which songs lent themselves to reharmonization, when needed?  Which songs inspired Don Thompson to write arrangements? I wanted to span the decades and highlight our interpretation of some well-known hits, such as ‘Here, There and Everywhere’ by The Beatles, as well as shine a light on some hidden gems, such as ‘A Wish (Valentine)’ by Norma Winstone and Fred Hersch. It also provided an opportunity to highlight some of Canada’s great songwriters, such as Ron Sexsmith, Gordon Lightfoot, and songs I grew up listening to on the radio.

“Everything was on the table. Nothing was out of bounds. It required some fearlessness to just focus on which songs we thought would best fit our trio and not worry about the original versions or how famous they were. Of course, as jazz artists, we do this all the time when approaching standards. The major difference is that given the proximity in time to the original releases, the songs perhaps resonate more strongly with a wider audience. I considered Billy Joel’s ‘And So It Goes’ – this is a very beautiful introspective tune, but it was close in sentiment to ‘Secret Heart’ [Ron Eldon Sexsmith] and ‘A Wish (Valentine)’, and I wanted to highlight these lesser-known songs. Also, as much as I really appreciate Billy Joel’s song as a listener, it just felt like the wrong set of slippers when we tried it on (if you know what I mean).”

One song that she arranged for the album is Leonard Cohen’s song, “Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye”. Cohen has written many great songs, and quite frankly it was nice to hear a jazz interpretation of a classic. It was the perfect choice for her and the album, but also somewhat unexpected.

SOFT WINDS AND ROSES ALBUM REVIEW

“This is one song that I have always liked. It has strong imagery and a bittersweetness that appeals to my sense of storytelling. There are some excellent versions out there, including those by Roberta Flack and by the songwriter himself, Leonard Cohen. To bring something new to the interpretation, I suggested starting alone off the top, since the lyrics are about the end of a relationship, and having the instruments join part way through to accompany the lyrics ‘walk me to the corner, our steps will always rhyme’. The relationship may well be over, but the memory of it will accompany her through the rest of her life – ‘my love goes with you as your love stays with me’.”

Panton is aware that albums, such as soft winds and roses, bear her name, but it is really a team effort. She has a remarkable band to assist her bring her vision to life. And she rightfully points out their strengths and accomplishments.

“I don’t go out of my way to be unpredictable, but having said that, I definitely enjoy the element of surprise and mystique. I also enjoy unexpected juxtapositions, such as vulnerability and confidence, but with an overall sense of balance and serenity. I think as time goes on, I have grown to trust our creative capabilities—our trio, that is; our ability to tackle new challenges with an open mind and intuition. These usually lead us in the right direction.

“I am so very blessed to work with two of the very best jazz musicians in Canada and beyond.  Reg Schwager was named Guitarist of the Year for four years in a row at the National Jazz Awards before that entity disbanded, and in 2021 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. Don Thompson is a three-time JUNO Award winner and Officer of the Order of Canada, the top honour awarded in the country for contribution to the arts. But awards and accolades aside, what makes Reg and Don so special is the way they listen and respond in the moment. None of our recordings are rehearsed as a trio, so everyone is fully tapped in during the session.  Reg grew up accompanying his sister Jeannette Lambert, who is an accomplished singer in her own right, as well as backing Diana Krall and others. Don has provided accompaniment for Mel Tormé, Sarah Vaughan, Sheila Jordan, and so on. So, both have extensive experience accompanying vocalists. They also both worked as part of George Shearing’s quartet and have recorded together as a duo, so they are very tight with one another and can play in a very instinctive way without stepping on each other’s toes. Add that to their soloing, compositional, and arranging skills, and they bring all of that insight and experience onto our albums.

“I was very fortunate to have Don approach me after a show when I was just a teenager. He suggested I attend the Banff Center for the Arts where he was an instructor. There, we had the opportunity to perform together for the first time and, after our set, he invited me to call him when I was ready to record! I was only 19 years old and couldn’t believe it, really. I called him some 10 years later, after having completed my Masters Degree in French Literature and a teaching engagement in Paris, to take him up on his offer, unsure if he would even remember me. Anyway, he did remember and suggested we include Reg Schwager for the session. I was delighted since I had been a longtime admirer of Reg’s playing. I selected a shortlist of tunes, then Don and I worked out the keys. I met Reg the day of the first session, and we recorded our first album together in two days back-to-back. The rest is history! soft winds and roses will be our 11^th studio album recorded together. I cannot overstate how grateful I am to have Reg and Don in my musical life. They make music-making a joy!”

Panton has produced an incredible album, and soft winds and roses is not only an album her fans will enjoy but will gain her a whole new following. She simply hopes she has created something that people will enjoy.

“My goal is always to have people feel something. It’s far more important to me than what they think.”

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Photo Credits: Jose Crespo

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