Review: Linda Jackson Finds Her Place Onstage at Don't Tell Mama in TEMPORARILY LOST

Looking resplendent in a sleek black dress with sparkling detail, Linda Jackson entered the Brick Room at Don’t Tell Mama last Thursday evening, April 23, to enthusiastic applause for her solo cabaret debut. She instantly set the evening’s tone: warm, personal, and quietly confident, opening with John Farrar’s “Magic." She was supported by a polished band under the direction of musical director John Fischer (pictured), whose own gentle backing vocals added texture alongside Jerry DeVore (bass), Eric Hart (drums), and Gloria Bangiola (additional vocals). Director Lennie Watts also proved again why he's one of New York's most in-demand directors.

From the get-go, Jackson leaned into her great storytelling ability. A groove-infused take on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “What Else Can I Do?” cleverly reworked to reflect her own journey set the stage. Her tales - ranging from a hilariously vivid memory of toddler-aged independence (diaper, toy panda, and all) to reflections on adulthood - flowed seamlessly into the material, including a charmingly integrated rendition of The Chicks' “The Long Way Round.”

If there’s a minor quibble, it's that the arrangements for this show might be suited to a bigger room. The Brick Room’s acoustics occasionally struggled to balance a full band; during a few numbers, the background vocals were also just a touch too loud. Still, Jackson’s presence remained the anchor, her gorgeous voice cutting through.

A particularly delightful segment centered on her childhood knack for memorization - convincing adults she could read - which fed into a tender, thoughtfully adapted rendition of Kenny Loggins' “Return to Pooh Corner.” 

Her recollections of teaching English in Japan offered one of the evening’s most engaging turns, complete with a playful nod to karaoke culture with a brief, spirited “My Way” sung in Nihongo (Japanese). This gave way to a buoyant rendition of her go-to karaoke number, “Hold On,” by Wilson Phillips.

A haunting performance of Colin Hay's “Overkill,” was elevated by evocative spotlighting from tech director Kelly Wohlford. Jackson followed this with a crowd-pleasing medley of imagined locales: “Xanadu,” “Funkytown,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," “Neverland” - just to name a few - that had the audience audibly delighted.

Continuing the journey, “Temporarily Lost” (from The Bridges of Madison County) was delivered beautifully, and Elton John's “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” served as a heartfelt ode to New York.

For her closing, Jackson and her team wisely stripped everything back. Beginning with just piano and voice, she allowed the natural warmth and clarity of her instrument to take center stage in “May I Suggest”- a simple, elegant finish. 

The show may have been titled Temporarily Lost, but with a strong narrative voice and a gift for connecting with her audience, Linda Jackson has found where she belongs - on New York’s cabaret stages.

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You can catch the show on May 3 and 13 at Don't Tell Mama

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