Last Thursday evening still rings in my being.  A kind of dream was achieved as both Margaret Dorn and Julia Wade both perfectly set forth the ideals of the inspirational music concert series, the WFM Listening Room.

The audience simply sat and listened joyfully as both ladies spun out their musical magic.  The simplicity of the evening proved conclusively that good and great music can be deeply appreciated without the hoopla of sets, costumes, trapezes, orchestras, mind-numbing sound systems and psychedelic light shows.

These two ladies, the first, Margaret Dorn singing with her own piano accompaniment, and then, Julia Wade, singing mic-less over studio recorded tracks gave us songs that touched the heart and plugged us in to the beauty of the craftsmanship of their songs.

On top of it all, we had the rich opportunity to hear two vocalists who each have uncanny vocal instruments and know how to use them to perfection.  Dorn, a seasoned vet whose work spans decades of NY studio sessions singing with the likes of Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, Willie Nelson, Boz Skaggs, and I could go on and on is also a singer-songwriter of great sensitivity when it comes to spinning out a melody.  Her music reflects the depth of her experience both in the pop world and also in the world of the theater.

Two standout moments were Dorn’s signature song, You Win, a haunting and most original songset to a poem by Lisa Herman that I’ve heard her do with her a capella group, The Accidentals, many times before.  Either way it always goes deep into the soul of music.  Also she explained to us that she went back through her songwriter’s trunk and dragged out an old chestnut song called Part Of Your Song with lyrics by Broadway lyricist Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime, Once Upon This Island, Seussical).  We’re grateful for her trunk and the impetus to search through it.  This is a song that should move immediately into the public consciousness.  Simply a beautiful setting.

Julia Wade’s music leans a touch more classical yet still strikes the accessible chords of contemporary pop.  Her stunning new rendition of Julie Gold’s classic song, From A Distance, originally made famous by Bette Midler was a total crowd pleaser as suddenly three audience members (obvious plants) jumped to their feet and joined her in rich harmonies on the “God is watching us” chorus.

Wade sang down in order seven of the eight songs from her forthcoming CD, Every Day, and promised us the eighth song at the next WFM Listening Room in November.  Judging by the complete success of her seven song set, this will be an album that should land under a lot of Christmas trees come December 25^th.

Another of her crowd favorites was Wade’s Woman On A Train, the story-song of her chance meeting on a train ride to Boston that has no real plot yet fascinates in its in-depth look at how two perfect strangers can meet and open their lives to one another.  Wade puts us right there in the seat with them as she tells the story of their commonality.  You can smell the leather of the train seats and hear and feel the rails beneath as the train plunges into the night.

No train set, no flashing lights, no whistle, just a singer, a song and a story capturing the moment.  It’s the simple magic of song sung by a pro.  It’s the magic of the theater meets imagination.  It’s the essence of the idea of the Listening Room experience.

Julia Wade has two more Listening Room concerts planned for the remainder of 2010.  The first, her release party for her new CD, Every Day, will be Thursday, November 11^th at 8:00 at a new and expanded venue – Shetler Studios Penthouse performance space on NYC’s 54^th street.  She also has scheduled a holiday concert in the same space Thursday, December 2.

Also don’t miss the first of a new series of WFM Listening Room concerts given by the wondrous Jenny Burton.  Her debut at the Listening Room will begin Thursday, December 16^th again at 8:00.  Guaranteed to rock the house and make a true believer out of you.

Stay tuned for more details on all three concerts.

For more inspirational music, thoughts and ideas from Peter Link,
please visit Watchfire Music.