Diana Panton - I Believe In The Little Things

Diana Panton I Believe in Little Things  Little Things  18 March 2016

DIANA PANTON 2015 JUNO WINNER FOR BEST VOCAL JAZZ RECORDING PRESENTS HER DEBUT FAMILY ALBUM 'I BELIEVE IN LITTLE THINGS'    "Diana Panton has a magical quality.  Her voice and singing are charming and romantic, yet never too sweet, and she sometimes sounds divine." -- Shouji Ichikawa, CD Journal (Japan) "As an interpreter of beautiful jazz standards, Panton carves her own path -- and that's not something just any singer can do.  In a word:  lovely." -- Tim Tamashiro, CBC Music  (Canada) HAMILTON, ONTARIO -- As winner of the 2015 JUNO Award for Best Vocal Jazz Recording for her album, RED, along with a multitude of other accolades, Diana Panton is accustomed to the praise that comes with being recognized as one of Canada's leading jazz vocalists.  With her first album for children and families, I Believe in Little Things, Diana Panton is ready to bring her special brand of sweet and sincere swinging elegance straight to the hearts of the young and old alike. I Believe in Little Things is at once a carefully curated anthology of under-appreciated gems and a collection of classic children's masterpieces from DIsney, Sesame Street, Willy Wonka, and more. While the string that perfectly ties the album together is the authentic jazz sound and style of Diana Panton's exquisite voice, the players all have stellar credentials of their own, starting with Order of Canada recipient Don Thompson's splendid command of the piano, his tasteful mastery of the vibraphone, and his big, beautiful acoustic bass lines, not to mention the outstanding contribution of his musical arrangements. In addition, the listener is treated to delightful cello artistry from internationally recognized Coenraad Bloemendal and superb playing from award-winning jazz guitarist Reg Schwager. This altogether extraordinary album should be part of every contemporary child's experience.  Its polished delivery of wisely chosen lyrics and opulent creativity offer a respite of calm in an often-turbulent world.  The artistry of the performers is truly world class. I Believe in Little Things establishes its tone with the beautiful, warm sound of "In a World of My Own" from Disney's Alice in Wonderland, as sung by Diana Panton in both English and French.  Coenraad Bloemendal's lovely cello solo introduces the song "Alice in Wonderland," also sung in English and French by Diana Panton, with wonderfully inventive jazz improvisation by pianist Don Thompson, who also contributes some solid bass playing to support guitarist Reg Schwager and cellist Coenraad Bloemendal.  Thompson and Schwager were members of The George Shearing Quartet, and Thompson's arrangement of "Pure Imagination" from Willy Wonka is straight out of the George Shearing playbook. Since her debut release in 2005, Diana Panton's career has predictably gathered incredible momentum. With seven critically acclaimed albums, Diana's impressive catalog has garnered numerous honors, including theJUNO win for RED, two Silver Disc Awards in Japan, three prior JUNO nominations, eight Hamilton Music Awards, and a host of National Jazz Awards and Canadian and US Indie nominations.  She was a first place jury selection to perform at the Jazz à Juan Révélations in France, where she was voted Premiere Dauphine by the Juan public.  Her albums have had Top 10 jazz chart success in Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan.  Recently she was named one of Canada's Top 5 Jazz Vocalists by CBC radio host Tim Tamashiro. I Believe in Little Things will be available in the U.S. from Amazon.com, Eastwind Imports, and iTunes.  In Canada, the album is available from Amazon.ca, iTunes.ca, and at retail locations such as HMV, Atelier Grigorian, and Archambault in Quebec. # # # CD Details: I Believe in Little Things  U.S. Release date: March 18, 2016  (The album was released in Canada in October 2015.) For all ages Label: Little Things Distributor: eOne Distribution SRP: $15.99 US Running time: 55 minutes # # #   Diana Panton Performance Highlights - March - August 2016 March 3 & 5 - MMM Live Lab, Hamilton, Ontario May 28 - Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario Aug. 1 - 12 - Tour in Asia Aug. 16 - 21 - Woody Point Festival, Gros Morne, Newfoundland # # # Visit Diana Panton's website HERE.   Diana Panton on Facebook.   Diana Panton on Twitter.