Photographs by John Johnson

Last night’s WFM Listening Room Series II Opener, starring Margaret Dorn and headliner, Jenny Burton, was a howling success.  The new venue at 63^rd Street and Park Avenue, a magnificent, Greek-columned, magically lit, two-story space of grace was just the place for rich music listening.

One happy attendee was heard to exclaim. “Wow, after the week I’ve had at work, I get to come here and be inspired by all this music!”  Herein lies the raison d’etre.  Here is why we do it.

Our crowd was the biggest yet – a tribute to Ms Burton’s drawing power and magical talent.

An instant and lengthy standing ovation followed her performance with audience just a-buzz with what they had just seen and heard as the house lights came up.

Another audience member literally came up to me with tears in her eyes, grabbed me and hugged me with a volley of thank yous.  Me! Not Jenny, who deserved all the hugs.  I was just the producer.

There were several people there who’ve come to every show.  I think we’ve got something here.

Margret Dorn, singer-songwriter extraordinaire sang six songs at the piano, half of which were accompanied by Janie Barnett on guitar and voice.  Both ladies are top NYC studio singers, so harmonies were tight and true and blend spot-on.  Janie, a teacher of voice at Berklee School of Music in Boston, proved that teachers can be doers – especially in the world of music.

Margaret has one of those voices, when she begins to sing, you just sit back and say to yourself, “Ah, everything’s gonna be all right in the world for the next 5 minutes just as long as she keeps singing.”  It’s a voice that you can trust as it moves deliciously through its upper scale meanderings and melodic imaginings.  Easy, Pete.  Don’t get too gooey… (Can’t help it.)

Simply put, this lady can sing.  It’s a real pleasure for me to turn new audiences on to her exceptional talent.

And Ms Burton?  Well, what can I write that I haven’t already written?  It was not an easy night for her, so she proclaims.  I saw her struggles, I know her well after watching her perform for the last 20 years and saw her working to stay focused, to bring all her professionalism to bear.

She had had a rough week physically, but showed up ready to roll.  And roll she did!  I saw her imperfections, but I’m her director.  Mostly what I saw was a total pro at work on maybe not her best night, but in the end, the audience wept and cheered, stood up and hollered for more.

What they saw was her years of greatness powering her through a tough night – but a tough night only for her, as she gave and gave and gave.  Let’s face it.  Sometimes even singing can be pure hard work.  It should be joy and inspiration, but it’s an extremely difficult art to manage on the level that Ms Burton works it.

I applaud her for making it work so wonderfully on even a difficult night.  An evening of courage and commitment.

Next:  Julia Wade and La Tanya Hall, two gorgeous ladies with voices and talent to match, doin’ their stuff, Friday, April 8^th at 8:00.  This promises to be an evening of extremely sophisticated and, at the same time, highly entertaining music that is definitely not an event to miss.  So be there!