Jim Brickman to perform in S.C. - Savannah Morning News

5 downloads 38 Views 112KB Size Report
Jim Brickman, pianist and' composer, has found favor . among adult listeners who love sentimental instrumental bal- lads and fluid piano melodies. Brickman will ...
sounds

Jim Brickman to perform in S.C. Savannah Morning News

O

ne of recording label Windham Hill's up-andcoming new stars will perform 9 p.m. Saturday as part of the Family Circle Magazine Cup. Jim Brickman, pianist and' composer, has found favor . among adult listeners who love sentimental instrumental ballads and fluid piano melodies. Brickman will perform on center court at the Sea Pines Racquet Club on Hilton Head Island. Brickman started out his career as a commercial jingle writer, crafting advertisement melodies for Pontiac, 7-Up, AT&T, and Purina. The Cleveland, Ohio native also worked for Jim Henson Associates writing tunes for Sesame Street. "Eventually, I got bored doing jingles," Brickman has said. "I realized I never sat down and played the piano, except for work. I wanted to make music that was more personal, more real and from the heart" He put together a six song demo tape of romantic melodies with Top 40 pop sounds.

upbeat than the sometime melancholy mood of the first two, Brickman has said. Together, his three albums have sold more than 500,000 copies. "Picture This" has two meanings for Brickman. "The first, that everyone(has a different concept of what my music means to them, so they can paint their own pictures," Brickman has said. "Also, there's my desire to reach those listeners and say, . 'Come see what I'm doing, let me share a part of myself with you.'" "Picture This" features two popular guest artists: sax player Boney James on sax-piano duet "You Never Know," and country music star Martina McBride on

the ballad "Valentine" "I was completely won over < by Martina's voice on her 'Wild Angels' album," Brickman said. "Not only is it a perfect fit in terms of our romantic sensibilities, but it will help each of us reach new audiences." Brickman has been endeavoring reach those new audiences once city at a time. In 1996, he toured more than 100 cities. Much of the composing and playing on "Picture This" was inspired by his touring. "My feeling is you really have to take people on a journey and give them a theatrical experience," he has said. "I think of myself as an entertainer as much as a piano player."

The .tape caught the ear of producers at Windham Hill, one of the leading labels for New Age instrumental music. He came out with his Windham Hill debut, "No Words," in 1904. The single "Rocket to the . Moon," from that album became the first solo instni- . mental recording to ever hit Billboard's Top 40 Pop chart. Three tunes from his second album, "By Heart," made a rare crossover into the Adult Contemporary Top Ten, alongside songs by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. "Hero's Dream," another single, was included in NBC'S Summer Olympic coverage this past year. His newest album, "Picture This," debuted it No. 82 on debut tor a Windham Hill recording artist In February it was ranked No. 1 for four * straight weeks on the Top New Age Albums chart His third album is more

WHAT: Jim Brickman in concert

Jeffrey Siegel returns to explore romantic fantasies

9 p.m. Saturday

Carolina Morning News Center Court at Sea Pines Racquet Club, Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island COST: $22.50 for reserved seating and $17.00 for general admission; entrance to Sea Pines gated community costs $3. Tickets are available by calling 1-800-677-2293 or 803-363-3500 or at the door. Shuttle buses will take visitors from the spectator parking lots to the courts.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND merican piano virtuoso Jeffrey Siegel will share his "romantic fantasies" with listeners Monday at the Self Family Arts Center. The third and final installment of his "Keyboard Conversations" performance series will be at 8 p.m., in the Elizabeth Wallace Theatre, where he will feature works by Bach. Mozart Chopin and Schubert He will begin each piece with some insight into the composer and his work, helping the audience better understand and appreciate the music they are about to hear. After the commentary, he plays the piece uninWHO: ' terrupted, and at the Jeffrey Siegel concert's end invites piano virtuoso audience questions. The concert will WHAT: include Bach's pas"Romantic sionate Chromatic Fantasies " The Fantasy and Fugue, Mozart's D Minor Fantasia, Chopin's "Keyboard" Polonaise Fantasy conversations." and Schubert s beloved Wanderer WHERE: FantasyElizabeth "These particular WaHace Theat W T are ,? *Z ****** Self Family Arts ally stupendous . Center pieces even for these four composers," WMBfc Siegel said. "They pan. Monday 8 are very personal works, very alluring and compelling to Reaerved » ,_,«. is $25 for adults, He promised the $10 for kids discussion would not ., _-_ JL4. • linri . . , WIEBI CfJO10 RO over the heads of For re9ervatton« !,he »uudien?e:"Vo11 can (803) 842rlont have to know a ARTS sonata from a fugue," he said. "This is not a lecture." The son of a concert bass player, Siegel began playing piano at age 5. At age 19, he won a piano competition, earning him a solo performance with the Chicago Symphony. It was at that point he said. that he became serious about a life in the arts. Now 52, Siegel also conducts orchestras. This is his third year of performing (he Keyboard Conversation series on Milton Head Island.

A

Jim Brickman

YOU DESERVE-

mm* ffJMatfft H NHn *

(

30th Anniversary Sale Carpet • Rugs • Hardwood SeiOOgeechee Rd Since 1967 234-8227

• Better Service Better Quality Better Knowledge . u>.o, 'AndYbur Eyewear Won 't Look Like Everyone Else. Don V Buy Till You Pay Us A Vfo RS. Kids Love Us! Morning News • Friday, April 4,1W7 — t