THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 15, 1996 TAG: 9610150029
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 75 lines
JIM BRICKMAN brings his piano to the Harrison Opera House Wednesday to play music reminiscent of candlelight, wine and hand-holding - delicious romantic music.
Imagine, a concert with a respectable decibel level, an instrument minus electrical attachments, and no ear plugs needed. Spouse-to-spouse smiles required.
Don't think for a moment, though, that the concert is sweet but stuffy. Brickman is a high-spirited guy who believes in a lot of audience interaction.
Ask the Hampton Roads Brick-mans.
``When I was growing up, my grandmother, Kate Brickman, lived on 43rd Street in Virginia Beach. I spent every summer with her,'' he said during a phone interview from San Francisco. ``I used to go crabbing at Rudee Inlet.''
One uncle, Dr. Robert Brickman, who used to be at Norfolk General Hospital is now a Portsmouth attorney. Another uncle, Dr. Paul Brickman, is a dentist with offices in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. An aunt, Polly Brickman, lives near Ghent.
The pianist, who is from Cleveland, began hitting the keys when he was 4 years old.
Two years ago Brickman lived on the pop charts when ``Rocket To the Moon'' became the first solo instrumental song ever to hit Billboard's Top 40.
Since the release of his appropriately titled album, ``No Words,'' last year, he has had three adult contemporary radio hits, unprecedented for a piano artist.
The handsome, charismatic Brickman suggests that the popularity is due to the genre's simplicity.
``It's the antithesis of what's going on in the world. It's an oasis,'' he said. ``You can't compare me to some of the other pianists. I'm a solo player, no orchestra, back to the basics. People find solace in that.
``My melodies are accessible. You don't have to work hard to listen to them. They're for mainstream listeners, not jazz aficionados. It's nothing that needs analyzing,'' said Brickman, adding, ``I'm classically trained, but I write hokey melodies.''
Could he be referring to songs he has penned for ``Sesame Street''?
Or to ``Food, Folks and Fun,'' his McDonald's commercial, the AT&T theme ``We Want You Back'' or 7-Up's ``Feelin' Up.''
``I'll play all that because that's who I am,'' Brickman said. ``I never understand seeing a performer who does not play his hits. You must acknowledge that's what made you who you are.''
In concert, Brickman also provides insight into his songs.
``I spend a lot of time sharing stories and ideas with the audience,'' he said. ``I talk about each song, where it came from. That makes it more of a happy, funny, melancholy journey. There are a lot of different emotions.''
Some of the emotions are shared with singer Anne Cochran.
``We have a stage rapport that lends itself to people getting to know us better,'' said Brickman, who said his show's always contain ``some unexpected stuff.''
Is a tie-in with country music unexpected?
``Martina McBride is on my new album,'' said Brickman, who writes a little country music. ``I'm a fan of all kinds of music. One of the reasons I like country is that it's the format where you find some of the best singers.''
One of the best musical Olympics moments came when his song, ``Hero's Dream'' was performed on NBC-TV. It became an immediate hit with adult contemporary radio audiences.
``Nobody is doing what I'm doing,'' Brickman said. ``When you see my show, you'll realize that. It's not like anything you've seen before.'' ILLUSTRATION: Jim Brickman has relatives in Hampton Roads.
GRAPHIC
WANT TO GO?
What: Pianist Jim Brickman
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Where: Harrison Opera House, Norfolk
Tickets: $23.50 and $19.50. They may be purchased at the SCOPE
box office and all Ticketmaster locations. Charge by phone: 671-8100
Call: 623-1223 by CNB