Sweet and soft vocalist Diana Panton teams with guitarist Reg Schwager and Don Thompson on bass, piano and vibes to create trios of cuteness and swing. With Thompson on vibes, the team sounds like a tribute to George Shearing on the cool and cozy “Music and Me,” the dainty “Pocketful of Miracles” and soft waltz of “It’s A Most Unusual Day.” Hints of Nat Cole come up with Thompson switching to piano on the title track and the coy “If You Feel Like Singing, Sing.” Sort of a female jazz version of Mr. Rogers!
Caught in a live act, vocalist Jackie Allen delivers a rich evening of romantic tunes ranging from swing to modern pop. She is backed by the best, including saxist Bob Sheppard, John Moulder/g, Ben Lewis/key, Hans Sturm/b and Dane Richeson/dr as she works the room with upbeat pieces like “What A Little Moonlight Can Do” and wisps with Sheppard’s soprano on a Latinized “My Funny Valentine.” Some funky moods get the crowd moving as Allen teams with Moulder on “Everything I’ve Got” and gets hip with Sheppard’s tenor on The Temptations’ “The Way You Do The Thing You Do.” Soft sambas like “This Guy’s In Love With You” cool things down and she bares her soul for the sleek “Nobody Does It Better.” Moods to be wooed.
Ethereal voiced Kat Vokes creates haunting atmospheres with Jeff Miles/g, Nitzan Gavrieli/keys, Noah Garabedian/b, Ronen Itzik/dr and guest cellist Julia Henderson. Most successful is when her delivery is restrained and pulls back in contrast to the forward propulsion as on “Ballad to Follow” and “Epic.” She gives some Monkish angles with Gavrieli on”Dina” and shows a lonely soul for her haunting “Willow” while dreamily vulnerable on “Too Late Now” and eerily haunting for the jamming “Closer.” Textures and long shadows.