2 posts tagged “ballads”

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LINDA EDER “THE OTHER SIDE OF ME”

Sep 30, 2008
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Linda Eder

“This is really me getting

back to my natural self.”

There are three things I like about Linda Eder: (a) She’s from Minnesota, (b) Her dad is a pastry chef and (c) Her first paying job was singing at a Holiday Inn lounge.

Growing up in Brainerd, Minnesota, which is as far as you can be from both New York and Los Angeles, Eder did not let the geographic distance stop her showing the world her extraordinary voice. Right out of high school she worked the cocktail and supper club circuit until landing a big break in 1987 on Star Search (the original American Idol), winning the competition an incredible twelve weeks in a row. This amazing feat caught the attention of composer Frank Wilder who fashioned and fine-tuned a role for her on Broadway as Lucy Harris in Jekyll and Hyde. From there she developed into a versatile musician who regularly performs in Vegas on Broadway and even teams up with Symphonies all over the United States. She also travels with Michael Feinstein in recreating duo shows of the past like Steve and Edie, Frank and Judy and a little Sonny and Cher. She is a musician on many fronts and has released nine albums along her journey.

When the Big Chief, Vu, handed me her tenth release, “The Other Side of Me,” he remarked that Eder is in the vein of Barbara Streisand. I was pretty confused when I listened to the first song, “Pieces.” It sounds more Main Street than Broadway. Then I read the above quote and it made sense. If you ever been to Brainerd it’s more Country than Rock ‘n Roll and that feel never left Eder: “I’m basically a blue-collar farm girl at heart. This (album) is the kind of music that moved me as a kid.”

“Pieces” is a catchy tune. I’ve caught myself humming it the other day. It’s more polished than gritty. Eder maybe Country at deep down but her Broadway voice sails even while singing of a broken heart.

The album releases today and showcases October 22^nd at the Blender Theater in Manhattan. Wear your Cowboy hat.

Dave

PETER WERNICK & FLEXIGRASS – WHAT THE

Jun 1, 2008
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BLUE TRAIN

Pete Wernick & Flexigrass

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“I’ve taken some knocks over the years for being different,

But that won’t hold back the music.”

Peter Wernick

“What The” is the perfect name for this album. When I first plugged the CD into my computer, I-Tunes refused to put it into a category. When I listened to the first song, I had no idea how to help. Just listing the front men and their instruments didn’t help:

Peter Wernick on 5-String banjo pushes me towards bluegrass. Greg Harris on vibraphone pulls me towards modern jazz. Bill Pontarelli on clarinet sends me to Dixieland. But Joan Wernick on vocals tells me it’s all about the standards.

When I take a look at the artwork on the CD, I find no help as an illustration of what I assume to be the band is playing in front of an equally eclectic audience with Lady Di, Elton John and Marilyn Monroe interspersed with the regular Jane's and Joe’s along with the three Kings: Larry, Don and BB. But as I look a little longer, I see on the wall pictures of musical icons like Hank Williams, Ella Fitzgerald and Benny Goodman. Then I understand. This album is a celebration by those who love music no matter the style or affiliation.

I’d like to believe that this band formed organically by happenstance. Maybe one day Pete was sitting at his favorite coffee shop plucking away on his banjo until Bill and his clarinet wandered in, soon followed by Greg and his Vibraphone. And since they were all getting juiced on java, they probably had enough energy to blend their natural musical tendencies into an altogether new sound.

“Blue Train” is the perfect example. Pete and Greg play so well together, it’s a wonder why the banjo and vibraphone hadn’t met earlier. Also, Joan’s slightly flat delivery provides a nice counterbalance to the eternal perkiness of the banjo and clarinet.

This is a fun album. It’s nice to hear a group of players glide so seamlessly against their musical traditions.

- Dave