Yet another great evening of music!  Last Thursday at new and expanded venue Shetler Studios Penthouse 2 both Julia Wade and guest artist, Jimmy Roberts, established a splendid new look and feel for this revolutionary laboratory entertainment.

Not only did the new venue prove to be a giant step in the right direction, but also the audience continues to grow faster than we can expand and CD sales at the show beat all previous records.

The new space has less of a “house concert” feel and more of a concert atmosphere with theatrical lighting and NYC mid-town accessibility – 54^th Street right around the corner from the Dave Letterman show.  Two doors down from the storied Studio 54, the world famous disco in the 70s and 80s and now the home of the Roundabout Theater, there couldn’t be a more prestigious location.

With improved sound quality – the acts are off mic and feature the natural “unplugged” voices of the artists – the room is live and comfortably conducive to music.

Jimmy Roberts, best known as the composer of the second longest off-Broadway musical in history, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, second only to The Fantastics, kicked off the evening in high NYC style with his NYC Medley of songs reminding us what a great town we live and breathe in.  His classical chops at the piano, great sense of humor and brilliant arranging skills shone brightly in his Elvis Meets Schubert piano concerto reminding me of a somewhat serious Victor Borge.  He also scored heavily with me with his own rendition of Craig Carnelia’s “There’s A Kid Inside” from Craig’s own Broadway show, Is There Life After High School?

This man is so entertaining and has so much music literally at his fingertips, I got the feeling that he could have gone on all night and we’d all still be there listening, laughing and enjoying the man’s magic.  He’ll definitely be back!

The evening was special on two levels.  It was also the release party for Julia Wade’s new CD, Every Day, now out and selling like hotcakes.  She actually sang the entire album down in order, previewing what most of the audience ended up buying after the concert.  As usual, Julia was in magnificent form for this sold out audience coming mostly to celebrate her new CD.  And what a celebration is was!  She’s been building to this moment through the past 3 Listening Room concerts and tonight the long-awaited album completely paid off.

We watched her develop these songs, trying them out for the past 2 months in this laboratory and tonight saw and heard the fruition of all her hard work.  Highlights were favorites, From A Distance, her passionate cover of Bette Midler’s 1990 Grammy winning song written by Julie Gold, her new setting of The 23^rd Psalm, written especially for her and her perennial crowd-pleaser, Woman On A Train, the true story of a chance meeting Julia had on her weekly train ride from New York to Boston, Boston to New York.

Her standing ovation and sold out CDs were a testament to the excitement around the release of this new album.

Coming up in December:  Don’t miss The WFM Listening Room Christmas celebration December 2 at 8:00 PM starring both Julia Wade and the award-winning a capella group, The Accidentals.  I’ve been going to this amazing group’s Christmas concerts for many years now and they have, for me, become one of the staples of my Christmas experience each year.  I won’t have Christmas without ‘em.  This year I’m making doubly sure of that.  Join us for an evening you won’t forget.

Also mark your calendars for the comeback celebration of New York favorite Jenny Burton, December 16^th at 8:00 PM.  Jenny’s Inspirational group, The Jenny Burton Experience, ran their sold-out show for 7 years every Thursday night and won every award imaginable including Cue Magazine’s NY Entertainers of the Year award.  Now Jenny’s back with her R&B/Gospel energies ready to set this ol’ town spinnin’ once again.  This evening promises to be a barn-burner.  Be there!