Linda Eder- Page 2

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 9/6/04 at 9:47pm

Just got in tonight, but wanted to share in this "Linda" chat, if I may. I also just came from her concert at Lenape PAC, Marlton,NJ on Sat. and will write up the BW.com review later this week.

I just wanted to add a little insight to the discussion. I first saw Linda in 98' at J&H when she was literally an unknown as Lucy the girl with "the voice". She certaintly created quite a buzz and audiences absolutely loved her voice, stunning beauty and approachable country farm girl manner.

After several CD's, Nationwide concerts including 2(?) at Carnegie Hall, PBS specials, I would hardly call her a Cabaret singer. She is still an impressive songstress and packs out 1,000+seat venues everywhere she goes as she gains fan and momentum.

I've seen her a handful of times over the years and did a nice inteview with her last year. Her roots are not impressive. She started out working lounges in Atlantic City 6 nights a week. This gal's been around and put in her dues. Contrary to what was posted, she did take some vocal lessons when she came to NY with a gentleman that I am affiliated with. He found her to possess a wonderful natural vocal ability and could only offer her some brief assistance to enhance what she already was doing. In her interview she relates having no notable family background in music and that she simply adored singers like Judy Garland and Barbra S. fashioned herself after them, found her style and just went from there. She admits to being very fortunate to have a composer write music just for her vocal style and will sing anything and everything she thinks will work. She's certaintly no diva!If she has an ego...she hides it very well.

I will admit she is no triple threat, for sure. But when she takes the stage, she leaves the audiences stunned at her vocal ability...and they come back to see her again and again. BTW, I noticed a visable improvement with her stage presence this time around. She was connecting to the audince very well. Jeremy and the band are such a solid force behind her vocals. Small wonder why this gal is booked all the time. ( for the record...I am not a "shill" or trying to win any Linda points. I call 'em as I see 'em).

You can argue about her "style" till her Westchester cows come home about her vocal tech.,her choice of music, etc. She WOWS the crowds every time.

A concert review comes later. Thanks.

Updated On: 9/6/04 at 09:47 PM

[Peter]

Posted: 9/6/04 at 9:52pm

Elvis..it isn't true that Linda hasn't had acting lessons. She trained extensively with an acting coach for Camille Claudel.

However, she hasn't had the formal training of many broadway performers and it's my opinion that theres a certain amount of jealousy that sometimes arises because of it. I've noticed some rather nasty criticism from others here who've turned out to be actors who no doubt have had the training and haven't had the breaks that she had. But as Jon pointed out, there is another contingent who believe Frank has held her back and that has at least some merit I believe. I do know David Foster expressed interest in promoting her in the past.

She gave a concert this weekend at Lenape and I've heard from three different sources who didn't know each other, and all three used the word "emotional" to describe Linda's performance..either and emotional performance, or an emotional connection to the music, stronger than they noticed in the past.

[showstopper]

Posted: 9/6/04 at 10:02pm

There is alot of nasty criticism on this board about her. I just saw her at the mohegan sun a couple of weeks ago and she was amazing. I have seen her several times and she just gets better every time. I personally think she is one of the greatest singers of all time.

[zoran912]

Posted: 9/6/04 at 10:04pm

I think she is great, I just don't think she is as great as others seem to think. There are better singers that don't get as much recognition.

[showstopper]

Posted: 9/6/04 at 10:05pm

umm like you zoran?

[Pip]

Posted: 9/6/04 at 10:11pm

I don't think she's the best singer in the world...but I still really enjoy her voice and have 2 of her CD's that I listen to alot.

Posted: 9/6/04 at 10:15pm

Hey... I wanted to apologize for posting that she has never ahd any voice or acting lessons. I was unaware that she had had any. Still, she did some remarkable things on her own before she ever had any professional training. I truly believe that she has a natural gift. She was such a kind, humble person when I met her. Today, as sad as it is, it is hard to find such talented people that are as down to earth as she is.

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 9/6/04 at 10:27pm

She's really amazing--her last CD is her best. (BRoadway My Way) I think that was her last--Gold was before it or after? I can't wait for Camille Claudel!!

Posted: 9/6/04 at 10:29pm

Delphine, I completely agree about feeling "warmth"... I don't enjoy her as much as many people here do. AND, i can't stand her "Some People"

[The Grovers Corners Yenta]

Posted: 9/6/04 at 11:10pm

I think her voice is wonderful. I especially like her rendition of I Am What I Am fr5om La Cage Aux Folles

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 9/7/04 at 3:24am

What do you think the critics will make of Camille Claudel? Do you think Dracula will last that long to support it? And, if Wildhorn wants another triple-crown, what would be the third work?

[shira467]

Posted: 9/7/04 at 5:02am

I'd heard the name here and there, but even before then, I was compulsively listening to "Good and Evil" from J&H. Supreme excellence.

I hope to see her in concert one day.

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 9/7/04 at 8:50am

Definately do--she's amazing live. I like "Some People!" I like anything she does!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/7/04 at 9:28am

I think her voice has a nice sound sometimes - very much like a young Barbra Striesand...but in all the performances I've seen her do, she seems totally cut off from the material - only making sounds, but having no idea what the words mean. I've heard stories from people who worked with her, that she has such "chords of steel" that she can get up early and without warming up, belt to the heavens. That IS a talent, yes - but without the acting chops behind it - it means nothing to me. I think thats why I dislike most "recording" artists these days. I prefer an actor who sings, anyday, over a singer who tries to act and can't. (or doesn't try at all, as seems to be her case). She should stick to concerts and recording and not try to perform a role in a show at this point. If you want to hear someone interpret a lyric with heart and head, listen to the recently re-released (on CD) recordings of the late Nancy Lamott. Now SHE was a truly gifted singer who, though not primarly though of as an actress, could make more sense of a lyric than most of today's pop singers can even come close to doing.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 9/7/04 at 12:27pm

""I think her voice has a nice sound sometimes - very much like a young Barbra Striesand...but in all the performances I've seen her do, she seems totally cut off from the material - only making sounds, but having no idea what the words mean.""

Redhot~ I totally agree with you on that. She seems to still wisk her mic away from a word and looses the pronunciation and effect. It's the one fault I keep seeing take place. Are you and I the only people who are catching this? It's really takes away from the lyrics of some beautiful songs that she sings, like Anthem in particular. I am going to tell her! LOL! Really!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 9/7/04 at 12:30pm

I notice that mic behavior as well. I HATE HATE HATE singers who so that.

Posted: 9/7/04 at 12:48pm

Linda has almost no vibrato at all (which is something I love about her) and her idol is not Barbara Streisand. She says it as a joke in her concerts, but her true idol is Judy Garland. It's because of her that Linda wanted to become a performer.

I didn't enjoy her last concert very much because it was all from her Broadway, My Way CD and there was nothing to get my foot tapping...I prefer her big band stuff and I hope she brings that back for the next tour. Either way though, I'm always impressed by her voice. Wow! Can that woman sing!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/7/04 at 12:57pm

My comparison is not based on what she "wants" to be - I was just saying that sometimes when you listen to her - she sounds almost exactly like a young Barbra - its just the quality of her voice. And a little vibrato is a healthy thing - all that straight-tone is not always so good for the chords.

[Peter]

Posted: 9/7/04 at 2:29pm

I've always found it strange how some people say she can't act based on her ONE broadway performance in J&H, and don't blame the "material" as they do with their other favorites. For a show saddled with many problems, she was the least of them. It had a poor book, lyrics and direction, but somehow at least she was able to get us to care for her character so that it was quite shocking when she dies.

Now compare her performance to Erricos in Dracula, which is saddled by many of the same problems J&H had. Errico is a critical favorite, but for me, unlike Eder, she wasn't able to involve me at all in her character. Instead of saying she gave a poor performance, the critics blame the "material" and not her. On top of that, her singing was inconsistent, with a limited range. I'd have to wonder if this were Errico's first show if people would be saying the same things about her as they did about Eder, or even worse.

Eder certainly may wind up being more of a concert performer, but I wouldnt say she shouldnt give broadway another shot. Since J&H, Eder has trained and improved quite a bit. She gave a wonderful performance in Camille Claudel. And I think she has shown growth as a lyric interpreter in concert, especially recently.

I have noticed too Pati her tendency to move the mic away too quickly so sometimes the last note is cutoff.

Posted: 9/7/04 at 2:40pm

I love her voice and I enjoy her Broadway My Way CD, but I have never seen her act so I cannot say anything in that department. All I know is that she went through extensive acting training in Camille Claudel and she has recieved wonderful reviews during the run in Godspeed! So I hope those lessons paid off!! Updated On: 9/7/04 at 02:40 PM

[InTheMoney]

Posted: 9/7/04 at 2:44pm

Peter, as a performer I'd say acting in a musical is different to acting in concert. When you sing in a concert it's very easy to forget the acting and just sing. A musical is different, because you're more aware that people have come to see what is basically a play with songs.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 9/7/04 at 3:01pm

I'm not basing my criticism on just J&H alone - I've seen several of her tv appearances, and she never acts a single lyric...she just looks like a deer in the headlights when she sings and I find that inexcusable in someone who is supposedly an actress.

Posted: 9/7/04 at 3:06pm

I was actually listening to Highlights from Jekyll and Hyde yesterday and my parents asked me if I was listening to Barbra Streisand. She does actually remind me of Babs, but I LOVE BABS... she expresses such meaning with her tone of voice and depth into her songs.

[bwaybaby2]

Posted: 9/7/04 at 11:50pm

linda eder is literally one of the most beautiful, talented singers to ever be on bway... shes flawless

her and GAVIN - perfect

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