SPRINGFIELD - The stage of Symphony Hall was painted in simple elegance on Friday night when pop piano stylist Jim Brickman brought his “A Christmas Celebration” tour to the City of Homes.
“It’s a nice, romantic Friday night in Springfield. So sit back and relax and let the music take you where you want to go,” Brickman told the audience after his first song, “Dreams Come True” from his 1997 album “Picture This.”
The two-hour long show offered fans, many of whom traveled from Connecticut to see their musical hero, an evening of dazzling solo piano, vibrant vocals and the warmth and humor that has made the holiday tour a seasonal tradition for the past 15 years.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have hits, and I’ll be playing them tonight,” Brickman told his audience about what they were about to hear for the evening – a show that featured his many romantic songs and others reflecting the spirit of the holidays.
The hits included “The Gift,” from his first holiday album and “Valentine,“ a big hit with country star Martina McBride, as well as a slew of others such as “After All These Years,” “Destiny,” “Peace,” “By Heart,” “Coming Home for Christmas,” and “Never Alone” which he recorded with popular country artists Lady Antebellum.
Brickman used the tour to introduces songs from his two newest releases, both on sale as Target exclusives – “All Is Calm,” yet another holiday album in a catalog that includes some six holiday titles, and “Romanza,” a romantic disc of music inspired by Italy.
When the announcer came on to introduce the show, he made a reference to “Jim Brickman and friends,” and the popular musician brought along several with him.
This year’s special guests included popular favorite vocalist Anne Cochran, a hometown friend from Cleveland where the two grew up, as well as singer Benjamin Utecht. Brickman told the crowd when asked where he finds talent to perform with him, he jokes that he often looks to the football field, referring to Utecht, a former NFL Super Bowl champ who retired in 2009. Rounding out the guest list was electric violinist Tracy Silverman, who Brickman has described as “Black Sabbath meets Santa,” and who rocked out on stage in several solos on a violin he fashioned to look like a guitar.
Along with the hits, there were plenty of Christmas songs, too. “Joy To the World,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Let It Snow,” “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “First Noel” and a host of others were performed solo by Brickman or in combination with his guests in solos, duets and ensemble pieces.
Among the highlights of the evening included a series of songs that Brickman said he “learned from” growing up and that were an “early influence” on his music, including “Green,” a song originally sung by Kermit the Frog,” as well as “Sing,” from the popular Sesame Street television show, and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Rainbow Connection” from “The Muppet Movie,” and “When You Wish Upon A Star.”
The holiday highlight of the show was the performance of a new song written by Brickman entitled “Fa La La La La,” which in an interview with The Republican the artist said he wanted to write a Christmas song that had a classic, old-time feel to it. He and all of his guests performed the song and invited audience participation in singing the chorus of “Fa La La La La.”
Brickman promised his audience his music for the evening would be an “antidote to all the chaos going on,” and indeed, it was.