Music lovers are streaming into Deal, NJ’s Axelrod PAC this June 26, 2025 evening for an unforgettable night of show tunes and pop songs by recording artist and Broadway star, Linda Eder.
Born in Arizona in 1961, Eder was raised in Minnesota where she was exposed to music at an early age. A fan of Judy Garland, Eder sang in clubs in Minneapolis and Atlantic City before winning the TV talent competition, Star Search.
Eder launched her recording career in America with her 1991 eponymous debut album, Linda Eder, and went on to star in the Broadway production of Jekyll and Hyde — created by composer Frank Wildhorn — where she won the 1997 Theater World Award for Best Broadway Debut.
Her latest project is TOSOM Live (The Other Side of Me) Concert, a live recording she released in 2024.
Inside the intimate Axelrod theater, the lights dim and artistic director Andrew DePrisco greets the audience, announcing, “We have Broadway royalty here tonight. It’s our absolute honor to have Linda Eder in the house!”
Pianist Billy Stritch, bassist David Finck, drummer Eric Halvorson, and saxophonist Aaron Heick take their places on stage and the crowd cheers as Stritch exclaims, “Please welcome Linda Eder!” and she enters looking stylish in a green sequined-trimmed top and black slacks.
Opening with a swinging rendition of “Almost Like Being in Love,” Eder’s full rich voice fills the auditorium before the arrangement seamlessly transitions into a jazzy version of “This Can’t Be Love” which is greeted by avid cheers and applause from the crowd.
Welcoming concertgoers, Eder announces, “My name is Linda Eder and I’m a singer,” before rocketing into a swinging version of “Fly Me to the Moon” which features a jazzy Aaron Heick alto sax solo.
After explaining, “I like duets,” Eder introduces her pianist and musical director, Billy Stritch, and Eder and Stritch perfectly blend their voices on the jazzy Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme tune, “Side by Side.”
Following enthusiastic applause, Eder explains that although she grew up “a Minnesota farm girl,” she was lucky to have had “the privilege of knowing Burt Bacharach.” Here, she presents a stunning interpretation of Bacharach’s 1965 hit for Dionne Warwick, “Alfie,” where her voice floats like satin as she sings, “What’s it all about Alfie?” on an arrangement that ebbs and flows with seasoned musicality all around her.
After informing the crowd about her love for Judy Garland, Eder launches into a bouncy medley of Garland staples including “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “San Francisco,” and “The Trolley Song,” all accompanied with style and precision by her talented quartet.
Acknowledging, “I’m lucky because I’ve had a lot of wonderful songs written for me,” Eder reveals, “This is one of the few songs Frank Wildhorn wrote both music and lyrics for.” Stepping into “‘Til You Come Back to Me,” David Finke impresses with his intricate bass playing, Eric Halverson adds drum fills with style, and Billy Stritch and Linda sing together in close harmony on this upbeat and jazzy tune.
Explaining that in her career, “I only did one show on Broadway — I mostly performed in night clubs,” Eder provides her take on Sunset Boulevard’s “As If We Never Said Goodbye.” Flute and piano introduce this poignant ballad before Eder’s commanding voice takes over and she holds a note out on the coda which generates hoots and hollers from the crowd.
Piano and voice open “By Myself” before bowed bass, shimmering cymbals, and legato flute sweeten the swinging arrangement. Taking a seat on a stool, Eder performs the ballad, “On the Street Where You Live,” thrilling the audience by holding out impossibly long notes while Heick quickly improvises around them, eliciting ardent cheers from the crowd.
A jazzy rendition of “Steppin’ Out” gets concertgoers’ toes tapping before Eder explains, “This is a song I’ve always loved but never sang so I thought I’d give it a try.” Here, she performs the ballad, “No One is Alone,” from Into the Woods, and follows up with the rhythmic show tune, “Bring On the Men,” where music lovers clap along on the song’s refrain before the arrangement builds in tempo and intensity.
Acknowledging, “A lot of people got married to this next song,” Eder impresses with her signature tune from Jekyll and Hyde, “Someone Like You.” Crying, “If someone like you/Found someone like me/Then suddenly/Nothing would ever be the same,” Eder sings from the heart with her extraordinary talent, touching music lovers in the audience who clap and cheer at the conclusion.
Facing one another, Eder and Stritch perform an intimate duet on the Nat King Cole hit, “Unforgettable,” before Eder sings with power and emotion on the Sara Bareilles ballad, “Gravity.” Following an upbeat presentation of Frank Wildhorn’s “Mad Hatter” where Stritch provides vocal harmonies while the band swings, Eder invites the crowd to sing along on a soulful rendition of the Dusty Springfield R&B hit, “Son of a Preacher Man.”
Eder shifts into a jazzy interpretation of Henry Mancini’s “Charade” where she vocalizes up and down the scale with ease, and Aaron Heick, David Finck, Eric Halverson, and Billy Stritch each play solos as Linda introduces them. Next, Eder sails into “Gold,” a power ballad from the Frank Wildhorn musical, Camille Claudel, where she cries, “My hands are touched with gold,” as the arrangement dramatically builds in intensity and feeling.
Eder concludes tonight’s show with a powerful interpretation of the rousing show tune, “Man of La Mancha,” vocalizing high and free, her voice soaring at the climax of the number and inspiring a standing ovation.
After she and the musicians exit the stage, Eder and Stritch return for an encore of Judy Garland’s “Over the Rainbow.” On this arrangement featuring just voice and piano, Eder gives a master class in vocal technique and expression leaving the audience standing and cheering as she says, “Thank you!” and takes a bow and exits the stage.
As concertgoers make their way out of the Axelrod auditorium, several share their thoughts on Linda Eder’s performance tonight. Remarks Judy from Waretown, “I’ve known Linda for many years and she still sounds as good as ever! Can you tell I enjoyed this show so much? My makeup is all running — her performance brought me to tears!”
Comments Rafaele from Neptune, “I love Linda Eder and I’ve seen her in countless shows. She sounded terrific tonight and made me very happy — she’s phenomenal!” Gary from Asbury Park agrees, exclaiming, “She was great! I’m a fan of her music and I really liked her song selection, especially the Judy Garland medley, and I liked her band, too. It was a terrific show!”
Declares Nataliia from Toms River, “I loved Linda Eder! She has an amazing soprano voice and it’s so impressive how she’s able to hit all of those notes.” Asserts her husband, John, “I love Linda Eder! I went back to see her many, many times in Jekyll and Hyde, and she still sounds great today,” before adding, “She’s great every single time I see her!”
Liz from Jackson acknowledges, “This was my first time seeing Linda Eder and I loved her so much! I love the range of her music, it’s so jazzy and inviting. Hearing her here at Axelrod reminded me of being in a jazz club in the city — it’s such a great venue here at the shore!”
Lastly, Pamela from Jackson reveals, “I’ve been a fan of Linda’s since I first saw her in Jekyll and Hyde on Broadway. I think I own every album she’s ever recorded — plus, I’m a voice teacher and I’ve taught nearly every song she’s ever sung so I know her songs intimately.” Continuing, “Linda Eder put on a master class in singing tonight. Everything she does is so beautiful and articulate and every note is so refined — she knows just where to place it and what to do with it,” Pamela confesses, “I sit and cry listening to her — it’s so moving to me,” prior to concluding, “Every note she sings is perfection!”
To learn more about Linda Eder, please go to lindaeder.com. For information on great upcoming performances at Axelrod PAC — including Taylor Simon King: Three American Troubadours on July 10; The Neil Diamond Experience starring Robert Neary on July 13; and The Weeklings BeatlesBash with The Horns and Strings Orchestra on July 17 — please click on axelrodartscenter.com.
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