If you need an infusion of holiday spirit, award-winning singer, songwriter and pianist Jim Brickman’s, “A Joyful Christmas” concert is a must-do. On December 10, Brickman will transform the Folly Theater into a holiday happy place. The Grammy-nominated performer says this is his favorite time of year and he loves giving people an opportunity where they can slow down and really savor the season.
“The show, I think, represents a tone of being an antidote to all the chaos,” says Brickman, “My goal is to make the performance intimate, so it feels like friends gathering. There’s lots of laughter and fun. It’s also very conversational with loads of camaraderie. I love that my concert makes people joyful and that they’re there for happy reasons. Nothing makes me smile more than when audiences tell me they love how my show is funny, lighthearted and tender.”
Some of the fun on stage could be because Brickman is working with people he cherishes. One of the vocalists performing with him is Anne Cochran. Cochran and Brickman were in a band together back in the high school and they’ve been touring together for two decades.
Another audience pleaser is that Brickman embraces performing the hits that made him famous along with doing classic holiday songs.
“I'll play my hits because I love them. It’s also how people know you and they want to hear you play their favorite songs. But, I’m also going to never say no to singing classic carols like ‘Joy to the World’ and ‘Oh Holy Night.’ You can feel those songs in your bones.”
Brickman is excited about being back in Kansas City. As a fellow Midwesterner (Brickman is from Cleveland) he’s a fan of KC. In fact, back in the day he used to write jingles and some of his clients were KCTV and Helzberg Diamonds. While he’s here, Brickman says he’s going to hit up the Plaza, Halls, and the Green Lady Lounge. Many of his local fans, no doubt, remember Brickman from his many appearances with the Kansas City Symphony which he calls amazing.
“The Kansas City Symphony is fantastic, and the Kauffman Center is breathtaking. Playing in Helzberg Hall makes it magical all the way around. It’s always a very emotional experience for me.”
Brickman fell in love with music at an early age. He had his first piano lesson when he was five, but, he shares while laughing, it took three years before his parents would buy him a piano.
“I’m not kidding, my parents waited that long to buy me a piano because they were afraid I would lose interest. My mom made me a keyboard out of green felt and that’s how I would practice.”
Surprisingly, Brickman, the world’s best-selling solo pianist, confesses that he was a “terrible” piano student.
“I say that because I feel like I’m more of a song writer than a pianist. For me it’s not all about technique. A songwriter needs a lot of emotion. Honestly, I think of myself as an author, a storyteller. I’m an old soul when it comes to creating music.”
Nothing makes Brickman more fulfilled than performing during the holiday. He says “A Joyful Christmas” is almost a present to himself.
“Come on, I get to do Christmas every single day for six weeks with my tour. What can be better than that?”
Visit www.jimbrickman.com for more information.
Date: Monday, December 10, 2018 | Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Folly Theater | Tickets: $35 – $75
