POP MUSIC REVIEW : Vandross Charms Fans With Finesse : The singer, who plays the Anaheim Arena tonight with Oleta Adams, delivers a long set satisfying in its simplicity.

Don’t ever accuse Luther Vandross of lacking confidence.

He airily informed the near-capacity crowd at the Forum recently that he was going to give them an evening of entertainment “you won’t find anywhere else.”

Just as it isn’t a boast if you can back it up, Vandross proceeded to deliver on his promise during a satisfying, two-hour-plus set.

While in the past the Los Angeles-based singer has favored lavish, Broadway-inspired stage productions, this time around, a slimmed-down Vandross was the picture of simplicity and restraint. With nothing to distract from his performance except backup singers sporting ball gowns that Scarlett O’Hara would have killed for, Vandross mesmerized his fans with pure vocal finesse.

And what a voice. One would be hard-pressed to name another entertainer in his peer group who can surpass Vandross, who plays the Anaheim Arena tonight on a bill with Oleta Adams. He can take songs associated with other artists--be it Brenda Russell’s “Superstar” or Dionne Warwick’s “A House Is Not a Home”--and make the original versions seem emotionally anemic by comparison.

While no one appears to enjoy Vandross’ singing more than Vandross himself, he does have a style that goes beyond mere skill and precision. Vandross isn’t afraid to convey the loneliness and hurt that often go hand-in-hand with romance, a stance that other young, male, cool-at-all-costs singers studiously avoid. Though never lapsing into showy theatrics, Vandross gave a glossy spin to the R & B ballad “Never Let Me Go,” popularized in the ‘60s by Aretha Franklin, without sacrificing any of the song’s heart-wrenching poignancy.

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Vandross generously shared the stage with his backup singers, who included Lisa Fischer, winner of a Grammy in 1992 for “How Can I Ease the Pain.” Possessing a voice reminiscent of Minnie Riperton’s, Fischer made warm, personable contributions both in her own two-song segment and throughout the show. Probably the evening’s most memorable aspect was watching Vandross serve as backup singer to Tawatha Agee, known to soul-music aficionados for her performance on the group Mtume’s 1983 hit “Juicy Fruit.”

While it was hard not to miss some of the over-the-top sets and costume changes of past Vandross shows, what remains is what made him a star in the first place: first-rate singing, combined with heartfelt emotion.

* Luther Vandross and Oleta Adams sing tonight at 7:30 p.m . at the Anaheim Arena, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim. $25. (714) 704-2500.