Diane PONZIO, A Global Minstrel for the New Millennium

Her music is never monochrome. To Diane Ponzio, being true to a particular musical style is not something destined. Blended with the groove of the pops, the fresh breeze of the folk and the zest of jazz and reggae, every piece of Diane's music is like a mosaic filled with the sparkles of a variety of musical elements.

FAZZ!

Diane Ponzio is a native New Yorker who started playing the guitar at the age of 13 and attended the prestigious High School of Performing Art. Apart from learning and composing, she did spare some time to play in the cafe. Ever since developing her career as a minstrel, she has been touring around the world to share the joy of her music with the guitar enthusiasts. She has become the clinician of C. F. Martin & Co. since 1986 and has so far released six full-length albums which are critically-acclaimed.

Brought up under the influence of a mixed bag of melodies, like those of Charlie Parker, Beatles, The Beach Boys and Bossa Nova, Diane found it fun to absorb the essence of different types of music while adding her own vibes to the pieces.
"My music is FAZZ, or acoustic folk that feels like jazz and features strong melodic construction. Basically, I conform to the structure of pop music, the ambience of folk whilst borrowing the harmony from Jazz. On top of that, haunting use of language in the lyrics, groove-laden percussive guitar style and saxophone-like voice makes my music more provocative," she said.

Acoustic Philosopher

Music, according to Diane, is something that must be relevant to everyday happenings. When composing, she insists strongly on using the themes that come from real life.

She explained, "I describe myself an acoustic philosopher. I observe other people and the world around them with my own heart and eyes in order to bring my voice, personal thoughts and viewpoints into the music."

"A good musician must possess the ability to be flexible and expose himself to different environments. It doesn't matter how fast he plays. What really counts is what he wants to say. Try to say something meaningful in every word which makes your song an authentic and unique one."

She said that things she hears on the street are most probably the inspiration for her next piece. A good example would be If I Ran The Zoo, a song that she composed after hearing the friend who was dissatisfied with the global turmoils and would like to set new rules for the world, just like running a zoo by himself.

Music Unites

Diane recalled an unforgettable experience during her tour in Shanghai, China. She said, "A lady came up to the stage after the show and told me that she virtually understood every word I sang, although that she didn't understand English at all!"

"This reminds me again that we are all brothers and sisters. We think we are so different but we are not. When music is made with heart, everyone understands. Everybody would be moved!"

Event Review

Held at The Fringe Club on October 26, 2004, the C.F. Martin Acoustic Guitar Clinic brought together many guitar aficionados. Found in 1833, C.F. Martin & Co. is "as well-established as the Great Wall of China", as Diane described right after the workshop began.

Diane then explained to the audience the key role that guitar bracing plays. She said, "When the bracing is too strong, the tab cannot function properly. When it's too light, the tab blows up instead." Availed of the two wood models on her hands, she went on introducing the authentic X-Bracing devised by C.F. Martin. "Such X-Bracing, invented in the 1840s, is just a product of the delicate balance. It's neither too strong nor light, but aptly constructed."

She also presented an array of quality C.F. Martin guitar models on the stage, including the Orchestral Model (OM) first made in 1900s, and the 14-Fret Dreadnought model which was made to cater to the demands of musicians for guitars with louder sounds, amid the rapidly growing popularity of acoustic guitar at that time.

"The high standard of production of C.F. Martin guitar means that every single product needs to be tested by 350 individual experts. This is amazing!" she added.

"Diane's presentation was vivid and clear. She managed to relate the technical aspects of guitar to the history of guitar music and the background of the celebrated brand." one of the audience said.

But words are not Diane's only means. Getting in the groove straight away, Diane was set to play her first tune of the night. The piece, bursting with the energy of rock-like pop, and fused with the nostalgic folk melody, captivated the wild at heart. With the kicking rhythm and her charming voice, the buoyant spirit of FAZZ was superbly accentuated.

The second tune boasted a lively and spontaneous flow, exhibiting the snazzy style of her FAZZ music. The piece weaves the passionate element of acoustic folk into the pumping beats of jazz, ushering the evening into another climax.

After rounds of robust performances, Diane chose something different to play, a song that commemorates the death of her beloved mother who passed away in illness. "I have been searching for those themes that we all share. I believe that, thus, the love of mother is the emotional bond that everyone feels." she said. Juxtaposed to the sensual melody was the touching lyric which impacted everyone in the venue, and one couldn't help with delving into emotional contemplation after hearing this moving tune.

Q & A

Some tunes played by Diane were followed by a number of inspiring questions made by the audience. When asked about the right way to store the guitar, Diane answered, "The wood of the guitar is just as sensitive as human skin! We should pay attention to the humidity of the place that houses the instrument. When we are not using it, place it in a case. The room is ideally air-conditioned, where the relative humidity is constantly kept at 45%. Otherwise, the guitar will eventually shrink due to over-dryness, or soften owing to high humidity"

Audience also asked Diane to recommend some models of C.F. Martin guitar. Diane thus introduced D-35 that is equipped with the three-piece back and is made with quality East Indian Rosewood. "It has good resonant and the bass is strong," she said, "J-40 is a good choice too. Embellished with the graceful four-roll profile and built with the dreadnought, its sound is good. This is my favourite!"

The workshop, which lasted for more than an hour, was put to its end in an inviting and atmospheric ambience. "My music makes people laugh, cry and think", one thing that Diane once said, is something however everyone couldn't forget!

Text by Y.D.L.