January 2025
Seeing the Music Live
Jazz singer Diana Panton is a two-time JUNO Award winner and in this interview she shares her love of special shows she has attended.
Jupiter Index: Which five concerts/performances have you attended in the past that moved you for the musical ability and skill of the artist/ band? What was it about the show that still stays with you?
Artist: Sonny Greenwich
Venue: Convention Centre
Where: Hamilton, Ontario
During my late teens, I discovered jazz through my Dad's record collection and started ingesting all that I could at local libraries. I was fortunate to join a local youth big band where I got to sing along with Ella/Basie/Quincy Jones charts. There were also opportunities to attend concerts in my neighbourhood where I lucky to hear guitarist Ed Bickert perform a solo concert at a local church in the pouring rain (the raindrops on the roof became part of my memory of that evening). Another concert (in the mid 1990s) that stands out was guitarist Sonny Greenwich (born in my hometown of Hamilton), accompanied by pianist Don Thompson at the local Convention Centre. This was my first transcendental experience at a live show. I literally felt like I was out of my body and the music infused me with a spiritual energy that was exhilarating! This feeling became the benchmark for the best listening experiences of my life. Don and Sonny were tapped into one another in such a way that you felt like nothing was planned, but everything was in synch and everyone was on board to flow wherever the music wanted to go. I heard a melody for the first time that night that stuck in my head - when I had the opportunity to meet Don Thompson years later, I hummed it for him and he identified the piece as "I Didn't Know What Time it Was". What a thrill it was to perform this song with Don at the Banff Centre for the Arts (where I was a student and Don was an instructor) and later to record it with Don on our first album collaboration (2005), ...yesterday perhaps (the album title is a lyric fragment from that song). If you had told my teenage self attending that Sonny/Don concert that I would end up recording 11 albums with Don Thompson and that Sonny Greenwich would tell Don to let me know he is "a fan" of mine, I NEVER would have imagined or believed it! That would have blown my teenage mind! Frankly, it still does! The universe works in mysterious ways!
Artist: Salif Keita
Venue: Waterfront Park
Year: Toronto, Canada
I traveled to Toronto for this concert with no expectations as I wasn't very familiar with the artist, but curious, as I had read good things. Well, from the first note, I was enthralled. Referred to as the Golden Voice of Africa, Keita had a commanding presence and remarkable voice which grabbed me and didn't let go. Born in Mali, this albino singer gained international fame in the world of Afro Pop. For me, the visceral power of his voice demanded that I listen with engagement. I recall being tired on the night, but not once the music started. That special transcendental energy returned (something I recognized from the Sonny Greenwich concert) and it underlined the magic of great music and exceptional performers which reaches far beyond entertainment to transform the way you think and, more importantly, feel. I tried seeking out Keita's music on recordings, but for me, nothing compared to that live show. I was super bummed to have missed his unplugged concert in Paris years later (I read about it only after the concert had passed). I never got the opportunity to see Keita perform again live, but fortunately I can say I did hear the Golden Voice in person and I will never forget it.
Artist: Cesaria Evora
Venue: Parc Floral
Where: Paris, France
I was vacuuming the house one day with the TV on and in the cacophony of sound, a singular voice cut through the din and stopped me in my tracks - I turned off the vacuum and turned up the TV to catch the last few lines of an advertisement promoting an upcoming concert by Cape Verdean morna singer Cesaria Evora in Toronto, Canada. I wanted to attend so badly, but I had no way to get to the concert. Years later, I was teaching in Paris, and I saw that Evora would be headlining a live concert at Parc Floral in the Bois de Vincennes (2001). It was an outdoor evening concert with a minimal entrance fee. I took the metro and arrived early to get a spot - turns out I wasn't the only one. The queue snaked for miles from the park entrance! I waited and nervously hoped they wouldn't announce the park had reached capacity, but fortunately, I got in and was treated to one of the most entrancing concerts ever! Paris loved Cesaria and she was barefoot, relaxed and in her element (even taking a seat at a small table for a smoke as she let her sizeable band take the pulsing lead at one point). What I loved about her performance was that she was 100% herself - despite the electric crowd, you felt that this singer (mature, sassy and emotive) was in complete control and comfortable in her own skin. I recall there were even people up in the trees straining to get a look at this beloved artist, all while being bathed by a balmy breeze under a thousand stars. A magical evening (which I believe was recorded and can now be viewed online).
Artist: Cecilia Bartoli
Venue: Theatre des Champs-Elysees
Where: Paris, France
When I was a teenager, I discovered the music of opera singer Cecilia Bartoli. I was fascinated by her voice and ability to master complex passages with ease. I also loved her feather-light vibrato. I was super excited to hear her perform live and in Paris at The Theatre des Champs-Elysees (in the early 2000). This was a bucket list wish and a dream come true. She was just as fantastic live as she was on recording with a skill and playful energy which earned her many "Bravos" and standing ovations. I was flying so high after this concert that I'm pretty sure I skipped all the way back to my Paris apartment!
Artist: Ron Sexsmith
Venue: The Knitting Factory
Where: New York City, USA
I was so stoked to make my first trip to New York to visit my friend (then studying at Columbia University) and drink in all the wonderful music on offer. The first thing I did was get a copy of Time Out and pour over the music listings. Tuck & Patti (jazz duo) - check, Winard Harper (jazz drummer) - check and surprise, Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith at The Knitting Factory. I was proud to see a Canadian playing in The Big Apple. I had heard him once before at a local summer music festival in my hometown of Hamilton. During my first exposure, his songwriting and honest delivery made an immediate impact and I was obviously not the only one. He had a devoted following in New York who knew the lyrics to his songs and cheered on his endearing, self-deprecating demeanour. It was an honour to include his song "Secret Heart" on my new recording (and be able to hear from him that it is among one of his favourite renditions of his popular song).
Jupiter Index: Which five concerts/performances have you attended in the past that moved you for the musical ability and skill of the artist/ band? What was it about the show that still stays with you?
Artist: Sonny Greenwich
Venue: Convention Centre
Where: Hamilton, Ontario
During my late teens, I discovered jazz through my Dad's record collection and started ingesting all that I could at local libraries. I was fortunate to join a local youth big band where I got to sing along with Ella/Basie/Quincy Jones charts. There were also opportunities to attend concerts in my neighbourhood where I lucky to hear guitarist Ed Bickert perform a solo concert at a local church in the pouring rain (the raindrops on the roof became part of my memory of that evening). Another concert (in the mid 1990s) that stands out was guitarist Sonny Greenwich (born in my hometown of Hamilton), accompanied by pianist Don Thompson at the local Convention Centre. This was my first transcendental experience at a live show. I literally felt like I was out of my body and the music infused me with a spiritual energy that was exhilarating! This feeling became the benchmark for the best listening experiences of my life. Don and Sonny were tapped into one another in such a way that you felt like nothing was planned, but everything was in synch and everyone was on board to flow wherever the music wanted to go. I heard a melody for the first time that night that stuck in my head - when I had the opportunity to meet Don Thompson years later, I hummed it for him and he identified the piece as "I Didn't Know What Time it Was". What a thrill it was to perform this song with Don at the Banff Centre for the Arts (where I was a student and Don was an instructor) and later to record it with Don on our first album collaboration (2005), ...yesterday perhaps (the album title is a lyric fragment from that song). If you had told my teenage self attending that Sonny/Don concert that I would end up recording 11 albums with Don Thompson and that Sonny Greenwich would tell Don to let me know he is "a fan" of mine, I NEVER would have imagined or believed it! That would have blown my teenage mind! Frankly, it still does! The universe works in mysterious ways!
Artist: Salif Keita
Venue: Waterfront Park
Year: Toronto, Canada
I traveled to Toronto for this concert with no expectations as I wasn't very familiar with the artist, but curious, as I had read good things. Well, from the first note, I was enthralled. Referred to as the Golden Voice of Africa, Keita had a commanding presence and remarkable voice which grabbed me and didn't let go. Born in Mali, this albino singer gained international fame in the world of Afro Pop. For me, the visceral power of his voice demanded that I listen with engagement. I recall being tired on the night, but not once the music started. That special transcendental energy returned (something I recognized from the Sonny Greenwich concert) and it underlined the magic of great music and exceptional performers which reaches far beyond entertainment to transform the way you think and, more importantly, feel. I tried seeking out Keita's music on recordings, but for me, nothing compared to that live show. I was super bummed to have missed his unplugged concert in Paris years later (I read about it only after the concert had passed). I never got the opportunity to see Keita perform again live, but fortunately I can say I did hear the Golden Voice in person and I will never forget it.
Artist: Cesaria Evora
Venue: Parc Floral
Where: Paris, France
I was vacuuming the house one day with the TV on and in the cacophony of sound, a singular voice cut through the din and stopped me in my tracks - I turned off the vacuum and turned up the TV to catch the last few lines of an advertisement promoting an upcoming concert by Cape Verdean morna singer Cesaria Evora in Toronto, Canada. I wanted to attend so badly, but I had no way to get to the concert. Years later, I was teaching in Paris, and I saw that Evora would be headlining a live concert at Parc Floral in the Bois de Vincennes (2001). It was an outdoor evening concert with a minimal entrance fee. I took the metro and arrived early to get a spot - turns out I wasn't the only one. The queue snaked for miles from the park entrance! I waited and nervously hoped they wouldn't announce the park had reached capacity, but fortunately, I got in and was treated to one of the most entrancing concerts ever! Paris loved Cesaria and she was barefoot, relaxed and in her element (even taking a seat at a small table for a smoke as she let her sizeable band take the pulsing lead at one point). What I loved about her performance was that she was 100% herself - despite the electric crowd, you felt that this singer (mature, sassy and emotive) was in complete control and comfortable in her own skin. I recall there were even people up in the trees straining to get a look at this beloved artist, all while being bathed by a balmy breeze under a thousand stars. A magical evening (which I believe was recorded and can now be viewed online).
Artist: Cecilia Bartoli
Venue: Theatre des Champs-Elysees
Where: Paris, France
When I was a teenager, I discovered the music of opera singer Cecilia Bartoli. I was fascinated by her voice and ability to master complex passages with ease. I also loved her feather-light vibrato. I was super excited to hear her perform live and in Paris at The Theatre des Champs-Elysees (in the early 2000). This was a bucket list wish and a dream come true. She was just as fantastic live as she was on recording with a skill and playful energy which earned her many "Bravos" and standing ovations. I was flying so high after this concert that I'm pretty sure I skipped all the way back to my Paris apartment!
Artist: Ron Sexsmith
Venue: The Knitting Factory
Where: New York City, USA
I was so stoked to make my first trip to New York to visit my friend (then studying at Columbia University) and drink in all the wonderful music on offer. The first thing I did was get a copy of Time Out and pour over the music listings. Tuck & Patti (jazz duo) - check, Winard Harper (jazz drummer) - check and surprise, Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith at The Knitting Factory. I was proud to see a Canadian playing in The Big Apple. I had heard him once before at a local summer music festival in my hometown of Hamilton. During my first exposure, his songwriting and honest delivery made an immediate impact and I was obviously not the only one. He had a devoted following in New York who knew the lyrics to his songs and cheered on his endearing, self-deprecating demeanour. It was an honour to include his song "Secret Heart" on my new recording (and be able to hear from him that it is among one of his favourite renditions of his popular song).
