by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
WHO: Jim Brickman
WHERE: Florida Theatre
WHEN: Thursday, Decmber 20th
Jim Brickman has a unique style of writing and performing piano music. Classically trained, Jim prefers to play his own compositions as pop music, which are inspired by his eclectic musical roots. His compositions are instrumental but he invites guest artists to sing his songs with lyrics at his live shows and on his albums. At age 19, Jim began writing commercial jingles. This set him on a path to compose music for commercials for major corporations. Jim also worked with Jim Henson Associates composing music for the Muppets.
By the 90’s, Jim was performing concerts and recorded his debut album, No Words on Windham Hill in 1994. More albums followed and by 1999, Jim recorded Destiny. In 2006, Jim left Windham Hill and released Escape (on Savoy Jazz)–a breakthrough album with a cadre of special vocal artists using Jim’s intricate original arrangements. Now, Jim is out touring to promote his holiday album, Homecoming.
To find out more about Jim as a person and artist, EU spoke to him via telephone. Jim lives to perform for his many fans. He agrees that music is the language of the universe. By sharing his emotionally penetrating music with his audiences, he is experiencing true communication – a very special experience that ends when everyone goes home happy.
“In my latest album, Homecoming, I’ve tried to capture the spirit of the holidays. I’m out touring to promote this work and enjoying the experience. When I write my songs, I’m improvising, in a manner of speaking – that is, I hear the music in my head, then, when I play it, I do change parts as I perform solo. Of course when I play with symphonies or with singers, I have to stick to the music as written.
“I don’t think about labels. However, I consider my music eclectic and uniquely pop – too diverse to categorize. I’ve worked with country singers like Sara Evans and Martina McBride. I’ve also recorded with R&B singer Gerald Levert. So, my music is influenced by a wide spectrum of musical artists and genres.
“As to my connection with country music, my first big hit was with Martina McBride, ‘Valentine.’ So it has been a tradition with me to occasionally crossover into country music. But I play different genres of music such as Christian, R&B, gospel, and pop but distilled into my own sound. I consider what I do original pop piano music with other genres represented. I like diversity and working with other talented people. My music connects with people – that is why I do it.”
Indeed, Jim connected with me during our chat. He’s intuitive and perceptive. We agreed that getting a group of people in an auditorium and playing music for them creates positive vibes on a very high level of consciousness. In listening to Jim’s music, I could hear many influences and nuances performed with finesse and subtlety. Whereas jazz piano can reach frantic levels of improvisation, losing the listener in abstract ideas, Jim’s minimal style uses musical space effectively to hold the listener in his aura of musical light.
Jim Brickman will be performing at the Florida Theatre on Thursday, Dec. 20.
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