Growing up outside of Cleveland in the ’60s, Jim Brickman fell into music at a young age. He was 5 when he started playing the piano. At 19, he founded his own music company writing advertising jingles for a client list that included Isuzu and McDonald’s.
Brickman released his first album, “No Words,” in 1994; it was the first of more than 50 to date. In 1997 he launched a syndicated radio show, “Your Weekend With Jim Brickman,” which airs Sundays from 8 to 11 a.m. on KSSK-AM. He began “The Jim Brickman Show Podcast” in 2018.
Since the pandemic put his touring schedule on hold, Brickman, 59, has been performing virtually. He scripts each show for a specific city and donates a portion of the proceeds to charities in the area.
Honolulu gets its edition of Brickman’s “Comfort & Joy at Home,” a live virtual concert, on Dec. 19.
Welcome back to Honolulu, albeit virtually. Tell me about the concept of your virtual concert.
What I’ve tried to do in my career is not just do what everybody else does. I feel like I’ve always just by nature done something unique — which is solo piano music, solo shows and things. There’s so much virtual (entertainment) that is a passive experience (and) I wanted to do the quote/unquote closest thing to being there instead of a passive livestream.
How does that work?
We’re doing different cities every night so I can speak more to the audience — (such as) “The last time I was at the Blaisdell, did we ever think this was going to happen?” — and the quality of the production is very high quality. It’s not just (me) in my house. It’s virtually like being at the show — it’s just you’re at home.
What are you doing these days that is not work-related?
The best thing for me is to run or bike, something I can do either alone or with family or a close friend, that is outside in nature and not at the piano. It’s really the thing that helps me clear my head. And I love to swim. Not things that I can do that much in Cleveland, Ohio, but I make the best of it. I think I should live in Hawaii.
How does hosting your radio show fit in?
I get to talk to a lot of great people. Over the years I’ve gotten so used to journalists asking (me) interesting questions that it interests me to think about what to ask (my guests) and what other people like to know. I had Train (on the show) this week; I just talked to Jewel. I love doing that.
Is there an artist or producer you would like to work with?
Recording duets with Broadway stars has always been on my career bucket list. It happened this year when I recorded the “Brickman for Broadway Christmas” project to benefit the Actors Fund. It’s an organization that provides relief to singers, dancers (and) stagehands, primarily for Broadway but it extends all over. I had a list of big major Broadway stars that I always wanted to sing my songs. Their voices are just amazing. To hear such phenomenal singers bring my songs to life was a thrill.
Your virtual concert is the deal — a roomful of people can all watch it, and go to the virtual meet-and-greet, for the price of a single ticket. We’re not going to see that deal again, but when might we see you back in Hawaii?
We were scheduled to do the Blue Note in February, but now they’ve rescheduled it to September. I’ve never played there, but when I was playing at the Blaisdell last time we went over (to the Blue Note Hawaii) to interview Air Supply for the radio show and they invited me (to see their show). For what I do it’s just perfect.
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Jim Brickman “Comfort & Joy At Home,” a live virtual concert
>> When: 5 p.m. Dec. 19
>> Tickets: $40; $75 (includes interaction with Brickman in the Zoom Room and a stocking of Christmas gifts delivered to your home), and $125 (includes the Zoom session and stocking, plus a post-show virtual meet-and-greet).
>> Note: Ticket holders can make requests and submit dedications in advance on Brickman’s social media channels or his website.
>> Info: jimbrickman.com
