Featured

Jim Brickman’s Dec. 18 virtual show to benefit The Hanover Theatre

RICHARD DUCKETT

Jim Brickman’s music could be said to sound good in a pandemic. Music for a new age, so to speak. The atmospheric feel of his compositions and adaptations have a mellow, reassuring appeal. Of course, he wasn’t writing for the pandemic when he got started. His first album was the compelling solo piano “No Words,” released in 1994 on the legendary New Age Windham Hill label. The title track of his 1995 album, “By Heart,” (also on Windham Hill) was beautifully sung by Laura Creamer and presaged many memorable songs to come. The songs certainly evoke an emotional response, but they’re also hopeful, idealistic and let you daydream.

Twenty-five years on, it’s all somehow reassuring.

Brickman wouldn’t disagree.

“That’s kind of the approach — comfort and joy. Trying to take the temperature down a bit. People are in need of music that calms them down. Anti-anxiety, I guess,” Brickman said.

His latest album is appropriately titled “Soothe Christmas (Music for a Peaceful Holiday).”

Meanwhile, “Comfort & Joy” is the title of his 2015 Christmas CD and also Brickman’s “Comfort & Joy at Home 2020 Virtual Tour” that began at the end of November and has many dates in December targeted to support host venues even though Brickman can’t visit them in-person this year because of the pandemic.

The shows, as they no doubt would be if Brickman was physically touring, are billed as having a blend of yuletide memories and holiday carols, with Brickman’s other own hit songs such as “The Gift,” “Sending You a Little Christmas,” “Angel Eyes” and “If You Believe.”

For the tour’s 7 p.m. Dec. 18 show a portion of each ticket purchased will specifically benefit The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts.

Brickman will be performing all the shows from his studio in Cleveland, Ohio, with different dedicated performances each night.

“It’s live. Every show we’re doing

JEFF KLAUM

date.”

He will talk about The Hanover Theatre during the show, he said.

There should be good memories from both sides.

“His style beautifully combines a bursting pianistic energy with a gentle, contemplative richness of melody and harmony,” wrote Telegram & Gazette reviewer David Lasky about one of Brickman’s Worcester concerts.

Brickman’s live shows pre-pandemic were often by and large solo affairs, give or take an additional performer or two, so a mostly singular virtual show shouldn’t be too much of a difference for fans familiar with his concerts.

The virtual performance will “as closely replicate the live experience as possible,” Brickman said.

“For the most part it’s a solo show. Probably a singer, possibly two. A couple of virtual performances. But it’s really my solo show, just like it is at The Hanover. The only part people are going to be missing is sitting there physically with me.”

He’s trying to take care of that as best he can, because Brickman is also enterprising. As he recalled in a previous interview, when he began touring in 1995-96, he was doing all the bookings for his shows. He remains a pianist, composer, songwriter, vocalist and businessman/ marketer.

Thus, tickets for the dedicated Hanover Theatre Dec. 18 show can be purchased from Brickman’s own website, https://www.jimbrickman. com/worcester/. He’s put together three packages: $40 includes a YouTube Link to watch the concert; $75 includes “a gift box delivered right to your doorstep, to complete your LIVE experience, containing a ticket, program, Comfort & Joy CD, T-shirt, autographed photo and goodies, PLUS a link to Zoom Room for an interactive concert”; and $125 includes the same items along with the bonus of “a virtual meet and greet after the concert.”

Brickman said “The Zoom Room allows them to see me, I see them, and they’re free to sing along and clap along. And there’s a meet and greet opportunity … It’s as complete as you can get under the circumstances.”

Originally from Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, Brickman began playing the piano at the age of 5, studied at the Cleveland Institute of

Music, and then founded his his own advertising music company, writing commercials for advertisers such as McDonald’s, Pontiac and Kellogg’s. He has called the job a good musical apprenticeship, although this wasn’t the type of music Brickman wanted to play for the rest of his life.

With his own musical compositions, Brickman felt as if he was on to something, he said.

“I did. I felt that there was a lack of music that was original, that had melody and focus, that wasn’t meandering. I think simplicity is a really important thing. I just felt there was a place in the world for it. People did covers with a lot of embellishment, not really emotional. I felt that there was an opportunity for something that was meaningful and emotional and melodic and original,” Brickman said.

He’s gone on to sell eight million albums worldwide, and had 33 top radio hits, including “Valentine” sung by Martina McBride.

In November of 2005 he claimed the top three slots of Billboard magazine’s chart of New Age albums, but Brickman prefers the term “adult contemporary.” He has won Songwriter of the Year awards in different genres, and worked on collaborations with a number of singers. He also has a syndicated radio show and a weekly podcast.

When the pandemic hit, “I think like a lot of people I started doing some live stream events,” Brickman said. “But as people got onto the bandwagon of the live stream, it was a passive experience, ‘I sit down on my couch.’ “

Brickman said he began to think “of ways I could bring it up a notch. What I feel like I’m doing is community-oriented. Going to the community, giving them a hand, helping them there. And I feel we’re helping them accomplish a lot in that way.”

Brickman has also been working on a “Brickman for Broadway Christmas Plus Brickman on Broadway” project of music and duets with Broadway stars that has included both a live performance (held Nov. 28) and a CD to benefit the Actors Fund.

The “Comfort & Joy” tour will have some new numbers from Brickman’s recent albums, but he also knows that fans will be hoping for some reassuring holiday songs and Brickman hits.

“There’s always something new,” he said of his shows. “But holiday classics, favorites and hits — there’s an expectation of that.”

He’s not on his virtual tour to disappoint.

StayConnected by Joining Our Social Circles.

Follow us on social media and get the latest news and information from across the region as it happens.

ADMIRETHELAKEWITH FAMILYANDFRIENDSDURING THEHOLIDAYSEASON Reservationsrequired

SPECIALS Gift Certificates Available

LUNCH

Monday-Thursday, 11am-4pm $6.99 East Brookfield Burgers DINNER

Monday & Tuesday, 4pm-Close $10.99 Meals (entree& salad) Wednesday, 4pm-Close Italian Night $10.99

Italian Specials with salad