Many CDs are shooting for at least a bit of the classic burnished beauty and heartfelt lyricism that's abundantly audible on Pink. For whatever reasons, they fall short. For Panton, it just seems to come naturally.

The young Hamilton singer Diana Panton's latest CD Pink is an extremely assured, luxury-car ride through 15 well-chosen standards. Panton has a pure, arresting, voice -- she strikes me as the feminine counter to the young Chet Baker's voice -- and her delivery is poised, effortless and irony-free. She's expertly accompanied by three of Toronto's finest: guitarist Reg Schwager, multi-instrumentalist Don Thompson (heard on bass, piano and vibes as each track demands) and trumpeter Guido Basso.

The well-known songs -- My Ideal, Wouldn't It Be Loverly, Tea For Two, What Is There To Say, Please Be Kind, I Wish I Knew -- more than hold their own with classic renditions, thanks to the deep lyricism and clear intentions of Panton and her band. The lesser-known songs such as I Walk A Little Faster, Love-wise, Five Minutes More and They Didn't Believe Me are well-crafted revelations.