Linda Eder has a loyal, passionate following since her meteoric rise to stardom on the strength of her Broadway debut in Jekyll and Hyde. With a massive delivery of her signature song “Someone Like You,” Eder is best known for the musical stage and television work. But she has also produced nine solo CDs that blend standards, pop hits, original songs as well as Broadway. She seems to be a performer in a natural transition and, if this performance is any indication, the direction is most welcome.

Eder possesses one of finest purest voices I’ve heard, rivaling Streisand for its tone and clarity. On many numbers, most notably a remarkable “First Noel” and “Vienna,” her vocals soar and thrill with her immaculate control.  One can forgive the stylistic sameness that each ballad promotes when the voice itself becomes more than the sum of the parts. Many a fine vocalist has become trapped into a defining style that becomes as heavy as a wet overcoat. Not so with Linda Eder, who, while delivering the ‘goods’ she’s known for, really shined on a new simpler approach to performing. A countrified slowed down version of the Beatles’ “Help!” and Elvis Presley’s loving hit “Can’t Help Falling in Love” were gentle and soft, the lyric standing forward. Her original love song "Waiting for the Fall" and a cover of James House’s “Broken Wing” allowed Eder to convey a deeply honest, heartfelt message.

Eder’s new direction appears to be towards a more hard-driving country rock/pop style and her voice is a natural for it. She’s a good songwriter and surrounds herself with master musicians. Her fans may miss the cascading super finales, but a whole new legion of admirers is waiting in the wings. Perhaps the questioning lyrics of Dory and André Previn’s "(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls" express Eder’s desire to explore a new side of herself. She knocked this song out of the park and showed that one of the greatest voices of our day, while reaching for some creative self-discovery, still has the passion to grow and expand.

Steve Murray
Cabaret Scenes
December 11, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org