Diane Ward's new album, "The Great Impossible," is the culmination of a year's work, and is a masterful reflection of the Florida singer/songwriter's significant talent. It began as her 2 previous albums had started: with a musical emotion that surfaces before the story develops, inspiring the lyrics and the melody. "The Great Impossible" is a personal take on the bigness of love, and the struggles to access it. To Diane, "This is the stuff that scars us and defines who we are."
The new music showcases an artist who has mastered her craft, and honed her songwriting skill until it slices through the pretenses of pop music. Songs like "Fade" chronicle the lives of people who feel invisible and hopeless, while "Baby Look Up" is a song of encouragement and inspiration. The haunting title track "The Great Impossible" sums up the eternal journey of finding lasting love.
And then there is the matter of her Voice. "... The sounds coming from the (recording) booth on this summer night - ghostly ...pitch perfect, tough and fragile at once - boggle," says, Greg Baker - Street Magazine. Diane's signature voice has power and range, but it's the nuances and raw emotion that ultimately connect her with the listener. In "Class of 2000", Diane's vocals soar with depth and coloration. "Perfect Kiss," is a tale of love at first sight and her voice leads us from the breathless beginning to the sensual finish of a desired love affair.
Such accomplished talent does not appear suddenly, without hard work, or the contributions of many other gifted people. Born and bred in Miami, Diane's talents were nurtured by some of the finest musicians in the state. In 1995, pursuing more of an acoustic sound, she went solo, teaming with Jack Shawde, whose eloquent guitar work helped bring her songs and characters to life. Jack's career has encompassed projects and tours with such notables as Bob Dylan, Dr. John, Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, Al Kooper, and Stan Lynch of the Heartbreakers.
That same year, Diane released her debut CD, "Mirror," which was acclaimed by Album Network for its "acoustic based rock with rich, full arrangements (that) highlight her singular vocal style and accomplished songwriting." Billboard Magazine called it "a stunning collection of husky, emotional songs with Ward's powerhouse vocals front and center." "Mirror" landed in Gavin's very competitive AAA chart, receiving airplay at 140 commercial and non-commercial stations, with selected cuts charting on several stations' top 10 lists.
Building on the success of it's predecessor, Diane released her sophomore album, "Move" which received acclaim as "a masterful collection of pop songwriting," and was awarded "Best Rock CD" in the April "BEST of 2000" issue of South Florida's City Link Magazine.
Now with the release of "The Great Impossible," Diane Ward is poised to bring her music to audiences nationwide. The 15 song CD was produced by Diane and Jack Shawde, recorded at Elysian Fields Studios, and mastered at NY's Sterling Sound by Greg Calbi (Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Ami Mann, Ani DiFranco). The Diane Ward Band features Diane on vocals, guitar, and keyboards; Jack Shawde on lead guitars; Debbie Duke on electric and upright bass; and Howard Goldberg, on drums and percussion. The band will tour the East coast; both plugged and unplugged, in support of the new album (they open for Ani DiFranco in March).
Diane believes that "each project has a purpose, and a special voice of its own. It has to contribute something spiritually and emotionally." 2003 heralds "The Great Impossible," the next step in the evolution of this gifted musical craftswoman and performer.
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