Canadian songstress Alex Pangman brings back the sounds of the late-1920s to early-1930s on her second release, Can't Stop Me from Dreaming (Sensation Records). The 15 tracks include several long overlooked sleeper hits from the early days of big band, ranging from the slow tempo "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Love", in which she sings to a lone guitar, to the Western Swing stylings of "I Had Someone Else Before I Had You."

Backed by a tight New Orleans hot-jazz combo, Pangman's sound is often likened to that of Katherine Whalen of The Squirrel Nut Zippers, but she surpasses the Zippers by sticking to the '30s style without trying to be too clever. Her vocals are delivered simply, in the fashion of Bessie Smith, Glenn Miller's Marion Hutton, or a young Ella Fitzgerald, which bring the emotion of the lyric a little more flair. Listening to this latest CD, you'll feel like you just spent an evening at The Cotton Club. Pangman primarily performs in Canada these days, but hopefully the rest of the world will discover this "Sweetheart of Swing" soon.

www.alexpangman.com