STAR-BULLETIN / 2001
It’s all about The caller had a big problem. In order to win the Jim Brickman concert tickets, she had to tell the deejay the titles of five Brickman songs. Try as she might, she just couldn't name five. Finally, in desperation, she told the jock that it wasn't the song titles that touched her, but the overall music and the way it made her feel.
the feeling
Brickman transcends industry labels
By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.com"And it dawned on me that this is what my career is," Brickman said after sharing that story. "It's not 'He does that hit song,' although a lot of people do use my music at weddings and listen to my radio show, and there's a connection in other ways for other people. But, at the core, she was describing my intention of doing this in the first place."
Brickman, a big hit here when he played two shows at the Hawaii Theatre last year, is returning for two shows there this weekend. Honolulu fans will catch him near the beginning of a U.S. tour that will keep him criss-crossing the country through the end of the year in support of his new album, "Love Songs & Lullabies," and his recent book, "Simple Things."
"We just finished the second television special for PBS, which has been a great success through Public Broadcasting, and that's a chance for me to take my live performing career into people's homes who maybe wouldn't have had the chance to come and see my concert and get the experience of what that's like and translate that to a larger audience."
Brickman is also returning to Honolulu as part of a three-day celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Hawaii Theatre and as part of a larger effort to reinvent downtown Honolulu as a multi-cultural entertainment and arts center. The newly-minted "Honolulu Culture and Arts District" will be the site of performances by Rich Crandall and Bruce Hamada, Halau Na Mamo O Ka'ala, the Daughters of the Nile dance group, Willow Chang and Jeff Peterson, and interactive theater with the Monkey Waterfall troupe.
BRICKMAN has been known over the years for his willingness to transcend conventional music industry labels. Although some people may think of his music as "new age," he doesn't label what he does as either new age or light jazz. He'll agree to "solo instrumental pop music," but his discography includes collaborations with Herb Alpert, Carly Simon, Dave Koz, Donny Osmond, Olivia Newton-John and Pam Tillis.
"Valentine," which he recorded with country star Martina McBride in 1997, hit #9 on the Billboard Country Singles chart and propelled his third album, "Picture This," to a respectable #30 on the Billboard 200 pop album chart, but Brickman says his music isn't about having hits. He likes to forge musical partnerships with people he finds interesting to work with, not because some third party feels that cutting a song with this star or that would be a good career move.
"The one thing that will never change -- which I think is the most amazing thing about what I'm able to do -- is that my performing will always be that. You can't replace the guy playing the piano and connecting with people on a one-to-one basis, or a one-to-2,000 basis, and that is the one constant thing that will remain vital to my career.
"I'm absolutely positive that if you asked half the audience that is coming to the shows in Hawaii, they will either say it will be their fifth concert or it will be 'My friends told me that you can't miss this,' and that's what you want because it's real and honest and true. It's not about what I'm wearing, who I'm dating (or) what magazine I'm in. It's about continuing to be creative and serving the audience.
"You have to do what you think is right and hope other people get it," Brickman said of his approach to his craft. "If they do, great, if not, you go on and do something else. But, by the same token, I'm very conscious of serving the audience and I think it's very important that I have a responsibility to entertain, when people are making an effort to buy the concert tickets, getting a baby sitter and trying to find a parking place. It's not just about 'I'm doing my art, and if you want to come and watch it, great, but I don't care what you think.' That's not what it is for me. I want to connect with people."
And back to the woman who couldn't name five Jim Brickman song titles -- she got the tickets anyway.
"I thought it was cool that she couldn't name five songs because it wasn't about the hits -- it was about the feeling."
Where: Hawaii Theatre Jim Brickman
When: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow and 4 p.m. Sunday
Tickets: $30 and $35
Call: 528-0506
Also: Mini-concert and autograph session at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Borders Books Music & Cafe at Ward Centre. Call 591-8996 for info.
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