There is no doubt that Linda Eder is blessed with an extraordinary voice. The purity and bell tone quality are remarkable, as is the way her instrument moves gracefully from high belt to whispered delicacy.

Eder rose to fame as Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde, married [its composer] Frank Wildhorn, bore a son, now ten years old, and is currently divorced, with a new boyfriend.

Celebrating the release of her latest CD, Soundtrack, presenting songs from Hollywood movies, the show included some songs from this CD: “I Will Wait for You” and “Charade” along with the little-known “Falling Slowly,” an Academy Award winner from a 2007 movie entitled Once. The set list included other material, too.

With perfect control, Eder wowed with “Someone Like You” and a bluesy swing arrangement of “Blue Skies,” followed by a ballad version of “Help!” Her original “Nice Day for Flying,” about her fear of flying, elicited her most animated talk. Country songs like “Son of a Preacher Man” were easy listening; “(Theme from) Valley of The Dolls” was her strongest suit, with beautiful colorations and feeling.

Big on voice, but not necessarily on patter, it didn’t seem to faze the audience as the rapture is in the music and the vocal sound. Missing was mention of the movies from which the songs came.

According to good sources, Eder is content not being majorly famous because she wants to walk down the streets of New York and not be recognized. She’s a low-key, casual gal and true to her non-diva reputation.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
April 6, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org