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Stereo Six: Diana Panton Shares Some of Her All-Time Favourite Tracks
Esteemed Canadian jazz performer Diana Panton joins us for a Stereo Six to rundown six of her favourite songs of all time.

All you have to do is trace her career backwards to recognize that Diana Panton is an artist who relishes a challenge. That would explain all the left and right turns she has made along the way. Her latest challenge is her new album, soft winds and roses, released last year.
The record is a deviation from her more recent releases, a collection of modern classics that Panton has put her own spin on. The 14 tracks have been collected from the last 60 years or so, songs by some of the most famous songwriters of all time. Amongst the artists that Panton has covered for the album include Lennon & McCartney, Don McLean, Randy Newman, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Burt Bacharach, and many more. With her signature sound, Panton puts her own spin on each track. Her vocals take center stage with the minimalist approach taken towards instrumentation.
Over the last two decades, Diana Panton has become one of Canada’s most influential modern jazz artists (check out our previous features with her). In that time, she has won two JUNO Awards and garnered international popularity in markets like France and Japan. Also in that time, she has demonstrated a lot of musical versatility, as soft winds and roses would suggest. Panton is, of course, well known for her work as a children’s artist in addition to her jazz career.
Panton joins us today for a new edition of Stereo Six in which she shares with us six of her all-time favourite records.
“For my past ten albums, I have primarily delved into the Great American Songbook with an emphasis on songs from the 1920s to the 1950s. My trio (Don Thompson, Reg Schwager, and myself) enjoy tackling well-known standards, such as ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ (famously interpreted by Frank Sinatra) and trying to bring our own perspective to the table (not necessarily with a brash re-arrangement, but foremost with an honest interpretation that hopefully infuses the song with relevancy today without taking away anything from the original composition).
“I also enjoy uncovering hidden gems and helping give them some worthy exposure to new audiences. For example, we recorded ‘A Little Girl, A Little Boy, A Little Moon,’ whose last rendition was released in 1927 (to the best of my knowledge)! I discovered this song from the original sheet music in a flea market find.
“Fast forward to our eleventh album, soft winds and roses, where we opted to undertake the same challenge with songs from the 1960s onward. Below, you will find my descriptions of six songs (in no particular order), which I selected to include on our recent release.
“Some of these iconic songs are part of the modern-day musical vernacular to which most people will even have associated memories (e.g. their first dance). There are also some lesser-known jewels which I believe are deserving of a wider listenership. All these compositions have the substance to stand the test of time (some already have!) as the standards of tomorrow and hopefully will be around a hundred years from today.”
1. Ron Sexsmith – “Secret Life” (1995, Interscope Records)
“Ron Sexsmith is one of Canada’s top singer-songwriters (he was voted ‘Best Songwriter of the Year’ at the 2005 JUNO Awards). Saxophonist Yusef Lateef once told me that I was a ‘heart singer’ and I feel that Ron Sexsmith is a ‘heart songsmith.’ His songs feel very personal and vulnerable, yet universal at the same time. Unlike many modern songwriters, he is unafraid to broach the subject of love, such as in his song, ‘Secret Heart.’
“In this way, I feel that his songwriting harkens back to an earlier time when narrative and story were at the forefront of lyric writing. This song has been covered by many artists, most famously Feist. As a jazz artist, it is rare for me to actually communicate with a living songwriter, so it was an honour to share this music with Ron and get his email back saying it was one of his favourite interpretations of his song!”
2. Joni Mitchell – “Both Sides Now” (1969, Reprise Records)
“Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is known around the world for her unique creations which have woven themselves into the fabric of people’s lives. In 2004, ‘Both Sides Now’ was ranked 170 on Rolling Stone’s ‘500 Greatest Songs.’ As both a visual and musical artist, Joni’s lyrics convey strong imagery, such as ‘bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air.’ Her words float free as if in a Chagall painting detached from the rationality of the real world.
“Despite the epic scope of ‘Both Sides Now,’ remarkably, Joni wrote it in her early 20s. Here she is in 2022, performing it at the Newport Jazz Festival (her first performance in 20 years at the time). This video highlights a voice in full command of its artistry – like a fine wine that has become more complex and nuanced with time.”
3. Fred Hersch & Norma Winstone – “A Wish (Valentine)” (2003, Sunnyside Communications)
“What happens when two of today’s best jazz artists collaborate to write a song? ‘A Wish (Valentine)’ is created, one of the most beautiful compositions I have heard. American pianist (and 17-time Grammy nominee) Fred Hersch’s classical influences are in evidence through the rise and fall of the melodic line and final resolve.
“English singer (and BBC Awards ‘Best Vocalist’) Norma Winstone’s love of poetry emanates from her heartbreaking lyrics. Her words evoke messy, yet real human emotions, the mingling of desire, introspection, regret, and perhaps a sliver of hope. This hidden gem is the most recently written song on my compilation and, in my opinion, deserving of wider recognition. Here is the original 2003 release by Hersch and Winstone.”
4. Gordon Lightfoot – “Pussywillows, Cat-Tails” (1968, United Artists)
“Gordon Lightfoot is famous for his contribution to the folk and country music scenes. He is considered one of Canada’s greatest singer-songwriters and counts Ron Sexsmith and Bob Dylan among his fans. He is of Scottish descent (as am I), and I feel there is something in the atmospheric mood and melody of ‘Pussywillows, Cat-Tails’ that harkens back to this Celtic ancestry. To be honest, I was unfamiliar with this song when I set out to do my recording, but upon hearing it, it was love at first listen. I am also a nature lover, so his lyrics really spoke to me.
“Folk music, like jazz standards, puts an emphasis on storytelling. It also seems the best songs seem to traverse genre boundaries with ease (as if there is something so quintessentially human about them that they can be felt and interpreted by many, regardless of genre). Here is Gordon Lightfoot singing his own evocative and captivating lyrics.”
5. Bee Gees – “How Deep Is Your Love” (1977, RSO)
“So everyone knows this tune, right? Whether you were around in the ’70s or not, the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack is part of human history at this point. ‘How Deep is Your Love’ also ranked 375 on Rolling Stone’s list of ‘500 Greatest Songs.’ Equally identifiable is lead singer Barry Gibb’s signature falsetto vocal sound. How do you put your stamp on a song by a singer that is so well-known to the public?
“In this instance, Don Thompson (pianist, bassist and vibraphonist on our album) was able to apply his superb arranging skills to transform this pop rock classic into a breezy jazz arrangement (both Don and guitarist Reg Schwager were former members of George Shearing quartet). As for my part, I have to believe in what I am saying and deliver authentically. Seems to me these lyrics, ‘cause we’re living in a world fools breaking us down when they all should let us be’ are as relevant today as when the song was penned in the ’70s. Here is a live version of the Bee Gees delivering their classic in 1997.”
6. The Beatles – “Here, There and Everywhere” (1966, Parlophone)
“How do you do a tribute of songs post-1960s and not include The Beatles? This English rock band was one of the most iconic songwriting teams ever! Paul McCartney cited ‘Here, There and Everywhere’ as one of his favourite songs from one of their most beloved albums, Revolver (1966). Of course, you are treading in dangerous territory when you tackle such a well-known classic where the original has become the soundtrack for people’s lives, but as jazz artists, we are accustomed to covering famous standards.
“I try to approach the lyrics from a place of truth. Imagine myself in the situation, in this case, at a restaurant where a pretty waitress is flirting with my date, and yet, he still only has eyes for me (referring to the lyrics, ‘someone is speaking, but he doesn’t know she’s there’). I hope modern songwriters continue to write about love, we need it more than ever in this topsy-turvy world. The Beatles did it so well, and their songs live on as classics.”
“Thanks for reading my musings on some great songs and the artists who created them. These songwriters inspired our renditions, and our aim was to bring something new to each song while respecting their original intentions. For those songwriters still living, we hope you feel we did your creations justice. For those no longer with us, we hope our homage helps your legacy live on and find new audiences. To music lovers, please check out our new album soft winds and roses.
“If my song list includes some of your all-time faves, I hope you enjoy our versions as ones to listen to alongside the ones dear to your heart. If there are a few new songs in there, that is great too! Thanks for reading, listening and sharing!”
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