Ingrid Gerdes

Singer-songwriter, and member of the Boston based Video Game Orchestra [VGO] Ingrid Gerdes, assembled an A-list of players that included guitarist Milt Reder, bassist Brad Hallen, drummer Mark Teixeira, keyboardist/lap steel player Aaron Lipp, horn players Brian Thomas, Mark Berney & Jared Sims, harmonica man Garrett “G Love” Dutton, keyboardist Ken Clark, percussionist Jamemurrell Stanley and singers Julie Jacobsz and James Owens to deliver a stellar album of originals inspired by her early days growing up in the Ozarks town of Springfield, Missouri.
A striking blue-eyed blonde beauty, Ingrid is graced with a soul-filled voice that rivals that of her contemporaries, Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi. Her vocals are filled with expressive power and soul as she crafts well penned tales of life, love and all their mysterious intricacies.
On her third album, High Priestess, Gerdes reveals that she is truly an emerging tour-de-force that has songcrafting talent, great looks and a voice to deliver it all on a world class level. Best tracks: the gorgeously sung “Missouri Limestone,” the syrup thick groove of “Water Through Your Hands,” the revealing “Someone Else’s Problem,” and the emotive longing of “I Need A Man.” Outstanding! [B.M.O.] - Metronome Magazine

A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
by Mark S. Tucker
(progdawg@hotmail.com)
Long ago and far away in a mythical obtuse land known only as 'the 70s', I favored a number of female singers who possessed what Janis had lit the world afire from: soul, blues, rock, a passionate form of
novo-madrigal, and pure heart. This circle of chanteuses included Janita Haan (from Babe Ruth, and my all-time fave woman singer), Inga Rumpf (Atlantis, Frumpy, solo), Maggie Bell (Stone the Crows, Midnight
Flyer), Genya Ravan (10 Wheel Drive, solo), and of course Bonnie Bramlett (Delaney & Bonnie, solo). Well, it's at this time in various cultures that such an ilk of singer has been slowly seen to be rising
once more, and Ingrid Gerdes is as good as they come, a no-nonsense, listen-up, don't-mess-with-medammit! singer who's, as the promo lit exhorts, "sure of herself and in command". That's more than evident
from the opening refrains all the way through to the closing notes of the eleventh cut.
I'm a pretty sarcastic s.o.b. and love a good solid verbal confrontation with just about anyone, but Gerdes is one of those rare women whom I'd think twice about locking horns with. Just listening to her sing, I can
see the fire in those sea-green eyes and feel that set backbone daring the unwise to mess with her and think they could get away with it. The cover shot indeed has her seeming to be a cross between an Arthurian High Priestess and a witchy woman, the latter buttressed by her bayou plaints and very soulful ways skillfully underscored by Milt Reder's cutting guitar work. Listening to the disc before I ventured into the liner notes, I was also thinking "Why are those drums so damn well appointed?" Of course, the answer was simple: it was Mark Texeira, the Stony Plain label's mainstay, Duke Robillard's skinspounder, a guy
who knows the shortest distance between two points and exactly how to get there. The guy reminds me of the Two Tonys: Braunagle and Brock. Ingrid eschews the term 'neo-soul', which is indeed just another marketing device, and well she should, as Priestess is worthy of having appeared on the 60s and 70s Motown label or some of those cool old Rare Earth imprint LPs. In fact, I'd love to hear her teamed up with the most soulful white male singer ever: Glenn Hughes (sans, of course, that outrageously righteous screaming he does, as it just wouldn't fit here) or even the aforementioned Bramlett. No, wait a minute, the latter would be too much even for me, my heart couldn't take it! Favorite song? That's a hard choice. Maybe Water through Your Hands: slinky as hell, slow, fiery, languid but smokin', temptacious while daunting. Of course, the funky spunky Someone Else's Problem is just as alluring, as though Sea Level brought her in for some of their Southern hipshake and sway, and, er, um, come to think of it, I can't choose a fave. They're all excellent…and she still spooks me with that American Amazon personna of hers. Fascinating. - Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange

"It's so exciting to hear a fresh take on soul music. Ingrid Gerdes is an impassioned native of the Ozarks who summons the deep-hearted zeal of Aretha Franklin and Bonnie Bramlett, forged with a bright, modern air that would have given Amy Winehouse a run for her money. Ingrid's new album is one of the best of the year -- a bluesy, uncompromising look at a woman who won't be stopped. She can belt, she can soothe, and she doesn't tell lies. If you didn't think they made music like this anymore, then drop your doubts and get on board."- STEVE MORSE, former staff critic at the Boston Globe for nearly 30 years who now teaches a Rock History course at Berklee College of Music - Steve Morse

Boston soul singer Ingrid Gerdes’ gospel-meets-R&B voice has earned her more than one comparison to greats like Irma Thomas and Mavis Staples, and the title of her new album, High Priestess, helps conjure images of a vocalist trained in a Mississippi Delta choir loft, spending Sundays praising the Lord and raising the roof.

Actually, Gerdes spent more time serenading house pets than heaven while growing up in the Ozarks town of Springfield, Mo. — an area known for its natural beauty. In fact, she used the four elements essential to all life — earth, air, fire and water — as inspiration for High Priestess, even filling a display board with vivid photographs suggesting moods she sought to convey musically. The result is both cool and hot, breezy and still, and imbued with a southern blues-rock sensibility that adds a shot of sass to her hot-buttered-soul, Dusty-in-Memphis delivery.

Gerdes, who studied opera at University of Kansas before earning her degree at Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music, explains, “Fashion designers sometimes create mood boards for new lines. And I like the idea of surrounding yourself with an inspiration and trying to become part of the world that you’re creating. So when I was writing the songs, I surrounded myself with the vibe to help bring this world to life musically. Where I come from shaped who I am and I want to honor that.”

Who she is, for what it’s worth, is a singer who eschews labels such as neo-soul. “I don’t really know what neo-soul is,” she confesses. “I don’t think anybody does. It’s just one of those genres they throw people into who they can’t really fit into other genres.”

In any case, it doesn’t adequately capture the allure of her nearly four-octave vocal range and old-school, old-soul sound, as exhibited on tracks such as the funky mid-tempo “Pride” and the slinky, snaky groove of the title song, which came to her in a dream. Or tunes such as “Rules,” on which Gerdes conjures the spirit of another adored singer, Amy Winehouse, or “Fire,” a smokin’ slow-cooker on which she generates the kind of heat that sends couples straight from the dance floor to the bedroom. Or “I Need A Man,” in which she explains, in no uncertain terms, that she’s done with “foolish boys.”

This is a woman who has no more need for trifling dalliances; who’s sure of herself and in command. A woman who, one suspects, might be able to shoot lightning from a pointed finger; with her beguiling beauty, rich vocals and the winning songcraft of High Priestess, she leaves no doubt she can cast quite a spell.

Gerdes started to realize she had a special talent when she was 3. Her mother, a psychologist, used to sing “bawdy barroom songs and lamenting folk tunes as lullabies,” and Gerdes, obsessed with The Sound of Music, would dance through the fields surrounding her home while serenading anything in proximity — in a voice far more soulful than most kids that age have.

Teachers quickly singled her out for chorus assignments, and she began winning songwriting contests in elementary school. She began acting, too, and even became a young film auteur.

“My dad gave me a camcorder, and I used to make these movies and sketches,” she says, laughing at the memory. “I made all my friends remake The Amy Fisher Story, for example, which is super appropriate for kids. And I made them all do a weekend-long production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and cast myself as the quite risqué lead character. As a 12-year-old. It’s super embarrassing now. But I was very industrious and I typed out the script word for word.”

She pursued both classical and popular music, though the duality left her feeling like she didn’t fully fit in either camp. To this day, she says, “I reject the idea that I must only express myself musically in one style. I love the artistic freedom of working in many genres.”

A brush with a major label while still in her teens turned her off to the idea of twisting herself into someone else’s image of who she should be and changed her notions about competing for fame. She wanted to sing and write, not become a pop-tart puppet.

“That was really my first exposure to the unfortunate underbelly of the industry – which I’m glad I saw at that age, so I didn’t continue to have misconceptions and I was able to really decide how I wanted to formulate my path,” she says.

The focus she’s apparently had since childhood has allowed Gerdes to develop her talents with care and diligence. Two best actress awards for a roles at KU productions and regional Emmy Award that went to a commercial PSA in which she starred have given her the credibility and confidence to attract some of Boston’s top talent.

“As soon as I moved here, I started gigging, jumping into the scene,” she says. “The community of musicians is so rich.” They’re the reason she stays in Boston; she loves the supportive scene.

After working with much of Duke Robillard’s rhythm section on her last self- produced album, “Shed,” she reunited with them and adds to the impressive roster of musicians for “High Priestess.” She sought help from Milt Reder, who has toured with Barrence Whitfield and worked with Susan Tedeschi, among others. They recorded at his Rear Window Studio in Brookline, Mass., with co-producer/engineer Craig Welsch. Aaron Lipp came off a Robert Randolph tour to add keyboards, and Garrett Dutton, aka G Love, delivers harmonica flourishes to two songs, Gerdes’s homage to her roots in “Missouri Limestone” and “Lindenlure,” about a cabin on the Finley River where, Gerdes says, “many of my most precious memories originated.”

In addition to performing, Gerdes is an accomplished voice-over artist. When she needs a break from working in her home studio, she spends her time outdoors running and gardening. But she still heads home often as she can, so she can watch her radiologist father “play tractor” on his 60-acre farm (“he has, like, six,” she notes), hug the dogs, ride horses and hang out with her young nieces. And of course, refuel her inspiration at its source.

For more, visit www.ingridgerdes.com - Music News Nashville

“Boston-based singer-songwriter Ingrid Gerdes has just released her third title, “High Priestess,” and this project is one of those albums that grabs the listener from the very opening note, a musical triumph that is, without question, her best to date. The songs cover a wide range of styles, from sultry soul to gospel-inflected R&B, all in a gloriously polished sound that is impeccably produced by Gerdes, who also wrote all the music on the album. The artist’s stirring, soaring vocals are in the spotlight here, the kind of thing that had a radio associate of mine raving, after he’d heard a cut on the air while driving to the station. Blues broadcasters, take note – if this one isn’t on your playlist right now, giddyup! - Brant Zwicker, ATC Blues Radio www.atcblues.ca - ATC Blues Radio

November 24, 2011

Originally from Springfield, Mo., "the Ozarks area of Missouri," Ingrid Gerdes is a neo-soul performer out of Boston, but she considers herself a Southern singer. Her latest album is titled Shed.

"I guess my influences and lyric style are sort of rooted in that kind of Southern soul-blues thing," Gerdes tells NPR's Guy Raz. "Growing up, my mom used to sing that kind of stuff to me instead of lullabies. Then I came across people like Bonnie Raitt and Otis Redding, and they just spoke to me, and I felt like that's my reality. You know, I grew up in the country. I'm basically a tomboy country girl, and it's where I come from, and I think it reflects in my lyrics and everything I chose to do musically."

Gerdes went to school in Kansas, then to Berklee College of Music in Boston. Originally, she says, she had plans to become an opera singer.

"Well, I don't know if I planned on it, but I realized I could sing opera style when I was really young," Gerdes says. "I studied classically throughout the years, and when I attended Kansas University, I did study opera there. And I still sing classically from time to time now."

Gerdes says the "technique alone keeps me in vocal health, so that I'm able to perform night after night for hours on end in bad-sounding rooms and dive bars."

Let Nothing Hold You Back

Listening to Gerdes perform "Your Boyfriend" at NPR, Raz says that anyone could be forgiven for thinking it's a classic soul song — except it makes a reference to Facebook. She's essentially singing this song to her ex's new girlfriend, saying, "Ladies, don't trust this guy." It sounds like a story that might not be made up.

"Well, it's definitely not an in-your-face 'I'm-stealing-your-boyfriend' kind of song," she says, laughing. "That is not the message; I want to be very clear. Most of my lyrics are taking directly from my life or from my friends or other things that I personally witness."

After hearing a performance of the album's title track, Raz suggests that Gerdes must go out with a lot of jerks.

"Oh, man! If I had a nickel for every time I heard that," she says. "I've had my fair share of interesting dates, let's say. But I'm not walking around, like, 'Boo-hoo, myself.' It's about letting go of things, because it only brings you down, ridding yourself of anything that's holding you back."

As with most emotive material, it's hard not to go somewhere deep with Shed.

"I think my job as a vocalist and a lyricist is to deliver the point of the song to the listener," Gerdes says. "I take that very seriously, so I try to put every emotion I can into my performances."

Does Gerdes ever think of the target of her rage?

"No, that would be singing from a bad place, Guy," Gerdes says, laughing. "I sing from a happy place." - NPR news

"With just a single listen you'll know that Ingrid Gerdes is spell caster. The new album “High Priestess”, from the start, is ear ecstasy. Ingrid's soul rich vocals are confident, sassy and strikes with definite deep emotion. It's Goose Bump Raising, Head Bobbing Blues at it's purist. “High Priestess” is a slow roll from down in the Delta, up to the North Hills of Mississippi to the Smokey Blues Halls on Beale Street ... -Cleve Baker, Host - Confessing the Blues Radio Network www.confessingtheblues.info" - Confessing the Blues Radio Network

The beautiful Ingrid Gerdes hails from Missouri, but you might not be able to tell it from her latest project. This has such a Latin / R&B feel to it that will have you tapping your toes wildly.

From the opening strains of “Your Boyfriend,” you will find a 60s Pop feel that will definitely strike you as sensual. The music has that Latin beat that will get your blood going, but also credit Gerdes’ vocals for enchanting you in. She combines the Latin sound with straight-ahead R&B on cuts like “Move” and “Want Me Too.”

This is just good stuff all around. Gerdes commands your attention with her sultry and sensual side, which comes to fruition strongly on the sizzling “Wicked.” Whether fiery soul or stunning ballad such as “They Always Come Back,” she is a vocalist that is quite capable of doing it all. She ends the album with a major exclamation point on the Mariah-ish “Your Presence,” which is a huge highlight.

Write the name down, because you are going to see her around for quite a while! Maybe her being from Missouri is appropriate, after all, because she definitely uses the album to “Show” off her vocal talents all the way around!

For more information on Ingrid, log on to www.IngridGerdes.com! - Music News Nashville

"Ingrid Gerdes' Shed is a classic--romantic salvation always just beyond reach. the album captures her refusal to bend even in the harsh winds." — John Shelton Ivany / National News Bureau
- John Shelton Ivany, National News Bureay - National News Bureau

"The new album by Ingrid Gerdes is an absolute stunner. She is still young but has a timeless voice that brings a hauntingly familiar but fresh edge to soul music. She captures the charged, neo-soul of an Amy Winehouse at times, but also the sensuous feel of a legendary singer like Irma Thomas. Her lyrics are bitingly brilliant in a survivor's don't-mess-with-me way, but also hopelessly romantic when the mood strikes. Ingrid's command, her presence and her skill are all world class. This album should crack a lot of Top Ten lists this year if people hear it.'' -- STEVE MORSE, former Boston Globe staff critic for many years who still freelances for them and has contributed to Billboard and Rolling Stone "
- Steve Morse, Independent Music Review - Steve Morse- Boston Globe music critic

Comments: Ingrid Gerdes has an amazing voice. This is a pop album with all sorts of influences: jazz, funk, Latin, show tunes--every song is clearly intended to have its own flavor--but the common factor is Gerdes' impeccable voice. From the promoter: "With a strong female delivery, Shed is a breakout favorite amongst her many fans." Start with 1, 4 and 3. - WLUR Radio

Boston - Boston-based singer-songwriter, Ingrid Gerdes, releases her second original album entitled ‘Shed.’ Gerdes, who was born and raised in southwest Missouri, offers southern soul and effortless approachability throughout her 12-song album. With a strong female perspective and a powerful, sassy delivery, ‘Shed’ is a breakout favorite amongst her many fans.



“This album is really about letting go of everything, getting it all off of my chest,” says Ingrid.



“In creating this album, I wanted to pay homage to soul in its root form as well as experiment with the more modern sounds of soul. I call it ‘Soul two ways!’”



“Songs like ‘Better Off,’ ‘His Game,’ and ‘Other Woman’ all have the throwback soul goodness I love, while songs like ‘Move,’ ‘Your Boyfriend,’ ‘Trying To Remember,’ and ‘Can’t Take Anymore’ play a little more with modern sounds.



“I also love to dance, so I had to include some grooves in this record that I could really work performing live,” Ingrid says. In the album’s first single, “Move” Ingrid’s love of dance is easily apparent. “I have an alter ego named Buffy and this song is dedicated to her,’ Ingrid laughed. “Buffy is a take-no-prisoners kind of girl and this song epitomizes that.”



“‘Shed,’ the title track, really had all the themes of the album within the lyrics: strength, honesty, self realization, sass, and power. Those are all sentiments I wanted to convey with the album and felt this song captured them perfectly. That is why I chose it for the title of this album.”



While there is a powerful perspective in many of the songs, tracks like ‘Want Me Too’ and ‘Your Presence’ highlight Gerdes’s lighter, more vulnerable side. “I just wanted to be true to who I am and sing the kind of music I love on this album; there is something for everyone and every mood on ‘Shed,’” says Ingrid.



Gerdes's original debut album titled, 'The Eclectic Collection,' received favorable reviews all over the world. A Chicago Sun-Times review calls her "The Next Big Thing." A prominent DJ hails Gerdes as "one of the most interesting and versatile singers on the circuit today, both technically fantastic and true to herself."



He also describes her music as, "The smoothness of classic, Motown-era pop; the grit and sex of Southern-soul; the sunshine and swaying feel of reggae; the romantic mood of Eva Cassidy-like sensual ballads - all on a single CD. With original pieces, both personally written and produced, this album epitomizes her appreciation and passion for honest music.”



All music available on Itunes and Cdbaby.com



Check Ingrid Gerdes out now!!!



http://www.ingridgerdes.com/ - Atlantic Multimedia

Boston - Boston-based singer-songwriter, Ingrid Gerdes, releases her second original album entitled ‘Shed.’ Gerdes, who was born and raised in southwest Missouri, offers southern soul and effortless approachability throughout her 12-song album. With a strong female perspective and a powerful, sassy delivery, ‘Shed’ is a breakout favorite amongst her many fans.



“This album is really about letting go of everything, getting it all off of my chest,” says Ingrid.



“In creating this album, I wanted to pay homage to soul in its root form as well as experiment with the more modern sounds of soul. I call it ‘Soul two ways!’”



“Songs like ‘Better Off,’ ‘His Game,’ and ‘Other Woman’ all have the throwback soul goodness I love, while songs like ‘Move,’ ‘Your Boyfriend,’ ‘Trying To Remember,’ and ‘Can’t Take Anymore’ play a little more with modern sounds.



“I also love to dance, so I had to include some grooves in this record that I could really work performing live,” Ingrid says. In the album’s first single, “Move” Ingrid’s love of dance is easily apparent. “I have an alter ego named Buffy and this song is dedicated to her,’ Ingrid laughed. “Buffy is a take-no-prisoners kind of girl and this song epitomizes that.”



“‘Shed,’ the title track, really had all the themes of the album within the lyrics: strength, honesty, self realization, sass, and power. Those are all sentiments I wanted to convey with the album and felt this song captured them perfectly. That is why I chose it for the title of this album.”



While there is a powerful perspective in many of the songs, tracks like ‘Want Me Too’ and ‘Your Presence’ highlight Gerdes’s lighter, more vulnerable side. “I just wanted to be true to who I am and sing the kind of music I love on this album; there is something for everyone and every mood on ‘Shed,’” says Ingrid.



Gerdes's original debut album titled, 'The Eclectic Collection,' received favorable reviews all over the world. A Chicago Sun-Times review calls her "The Next Big Thing." A prominent DJ hails Gerdes as "one of the most interesting and versatile singers on the circuit today, both technically fantastic and true to herself."



He also describes her music as, "The smoothness of classic, Motown-era pop; the grit and sex of Southern-soul; the sunshine and swaying feel of reggae; the romantic mood of Eva Cassidy-like sensual ballads - all on a single CD. With original pieces, both personally written and produced, this album epitomizes her appreciation and passion for honest music.”



All music available on Itunes and Cdbaby.com



Check Ingrid Gerdes out now!!!



http://www.ingridgerdes.com/ - Atlantic Multimedia

GO Getter: Ingrid Gerdes
A Springfieldian-turned-Bostonite, Ingrid is a musical up-and-comer (except in Poland, where she's already a star).
BY MATT LEMMON

COURTESY INGRID GERDES
For being a Boston resident for the last six years, Ingrid Gerdes keeps tight bonds with her home town. The 2000 Glendale High School graduate—who went to school at the University of Kansas and then Boston’s famed Berklee College of Music—is making a major dent in the Beantown music scene with hopes of getting even bigger (she’s already huge in Poland). If you want to hear Springfield’s next big thing, your chance is coming up: On March 8, for the fifth consecutive year, Ingrid will perform at the BCFO’s annual A Time To Share fundraiser.

How did you get involved with the BCFO event if you’ve been in Boston for almost six years?
Kathi Cryderman, the owner of Harem Boutique, became a fan of my music when I released my first CD, and insisted on having me come in for this event. The Harem flies me in and has me perform.

So what can we expect from your music? Describe it.
I guess it’s categorized “neo-soul”, like Joss Stone or Amy Winehouse… it’s a cross of genres, classical with R&B, some reggae, a lot of ballads—all my favorite types of music.

How’d you get started in music.
I was actually into opera when I lived in Springfield. In eighth grade I was in a blues band.

When did you move to Boston?
In 2002. I moved to attend the Berklee College of Music and got completely infused in the music scene here.

This is important: Who did you root for in the 2004 World Series?
I was so rooting for the Red Sox. I’m embarrassed. It was so amazing to be here. We kind of killed the Cardinals…

Okay, it was nice talking to you [pretends to hang up]. Just kidding. Tell me about your new album.
It was released in January, and it’s called The Eclectic Collection. It’s my original debut album; I wrote and produced all the songs. It took me a year, between the band I’m in [The Boston Players] and teaching. I tried to do this album the right way, and got some of the best musicians in New England to play on it.

Would we have heard you anywhere? TV, commercials?
That’s my next promotional push, college radio. This is hilarious to me, but Poland loves me. I don’t know why and I don’t know how they found out. I’m played a lot on the radio in Poland.

Why do you think that is?
They’re more receptive to new artists; I feel like in America, the music business is not about the music.

So, as an aspiring music professional, when you watch American Idol do you just roll your eyes, or what?
I can’t even watch it. It’s so frustrating. Obviously it’s a TV show, but I happen to know a lot of people who have auditioned who don’t make it. There’s a lot of stuff that people don’t know about [the process]. As a person with a music degree, who’s a songwriter and a producer, that show would never be for me. But it’s entertainment. What are you going to do?

Name one way that Boston is like Springfield.
Well, it’s snowing right now. Does that count? - Go Magazine

Catch a performance by rising music star and Springfield native Ingrid Gerdes at the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks' annual fundraiser, "A Time to Share." The event, from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, begins with a continental breakfast and features a charity fashion show, vendors, presentations by breast-cancer experts and a luncheon. Tickets are $25; call 862-3838 or visit www.bcfo.org. To hear a clip of Gerdes' music, visit www.News-Leader/soundbytes. - Springfield Newsleader

Gerdes produces rich, soulful sound

Native Springfieldian Ingrid Gerdes, a Boston singer/songwriter croons a rich, soulful sound in "You've Gotta Love You" from her original debut album, "The Electric Collection." Experience a sample clip here. - Newsleader: Soundbytes

"I was contacted recently by local artist Ingrid Gerdes about her new cd that debuted earlier this month - The Eclectic Collection.
I've been listening to Ingrid's songs nonstop all morning off of her Myspace page, and let me tell you, it's awesome. Amy Winehouse eat your heart out.
Here's a little more information about Ingrid's new cd:
Ingrid releases her original debut album, The Eclectic Collection, in January 2008. The album mixes blues, soul, Motown, R&B, reggae, classical and pop—into one unique compilation. With original pieces, both personally written and produced, this album epitomizes her appreciation and passion for honest music.
I've always been a fan of local artists. When I was growing up in Dallas, I was (and still am) a huge fan of Bowling For Soup. Good Luck Ingrid - I've heard your music - and I think you're going to do great!
I'm going to kick things off with my personal pick: My favorite track is 'It's Too Late.' " - beantownbloggery.com

"Her voice was made to be heard. Ingird Gerdes has created a soulful sound that is truly a gift. Her relaxed and carefree presence is a nice compliment to her empowering vocals. With lyrics from the heart, Ingrid reminds us to have courage, strength, optimism, idealism and faith. Her voice alone is enough to calm your spirit. Check her out before the venues turn into stadiums."-- Erin Jowett, Chicago Sun-Times - Erin Jowett

" Did you ever wonder how brilliant it would be to have all your favorite shades of music on one disc? The smoothness of classic, Motown-era pop; the grit and sex of Southern-soul; the sunshine and swaying feel of reggae; the romantic mood of Eva Cassidy-like sensual ballads – all one a single CD? Add a super-tight band backing up one of the most interesting and versatile singers on the circuit today, both technically fantastic and true to herself, and what you get is a debut album by Ingrid Gerdes, “The Eclectic Collection”.

With so many female singers out there exploring nu-soul territory made famous by Joss Stone Ingrid decided to go deeper and recorded a beautiful set of original material, plus two well chosen covers, covering music styles she loves the most. The idea, as risky as it was, gave some great results.

The very first notes of the album-opener, “Little Bit Of Sun”, reveal the secret – we’re here for a real treat. Passionate, strong but never over the top lead vocals and heavenly backing voices laid upon a steady groove produced by well-rehearsed combo. With “Should’ve Known” the groove gets deeper as the band takes us on a reggae side of town - if there ever was something like reggae-soul this is it. It’s fresh and very sexy. Every song in this collection sounds a little bit different, but what makes them an album, instead of just a bunch of songs is Ingrid’s sensitivity and the chemistry between her and talented musicians backing her up. Just listen to “It’s Too Late” as well-oiled soul machinery takes us on a journey south, juke joint bound. If this in not the perfect radio single, then I’m not a radio DJ! Being a self-confident Femme Fatale in one moment, Ingrid becomes a defenceless girl in the other – her singing on “Happy” is one of the most fragile I’ve ever heard on record, so pure.

With different styles, grooves and moods Ingrid Gerdes gives a powerful statement - the Berklee School of Music she has graduated can be proud of her. If you love intimacy in your music, get “The Eclectic Collection” and enjoy. But remember to keep it close to your player – when love-making time comes, you won’t find any better disc than this one! A five star CD."

Przemek Draheim, Polish Blues & Gospel Radio Host, www.blues.pl/draheim

- Przemek Draheim

"When a beautiful singer with a great voice releases her first CD and sends a note saying she loves your blog and asks you to check out her web site, you check it out. The songs were quite good.Beantown Bloggery posted about Ingrid last week. ... - Hubblog.com

"When a beautiful singer with a great voice releases her first CD and sends a note saying she loves your blog and asks you to check out her web site, you check it out. The songs were quite good.Beantown Bloggery posted about Ingrid last week. ... - Hubblog.com

Engaging, rhymes well, cohesive!
Vocal helps to sell the song, and music communicates emotion to listener. Good music in Verse and Chorus. Chorus Lifts well; singable and catchy!
"Quite a Polished song with skillful playing and production. Really nice vocals! The expertise really shows. The song is also relatable; seeing the true colors of a person after the fact. Nice melodies, music and lyrics." - Taxi