Brickman Celebrates Home and Family Onstage in Holiday Homecoming Concert Rich with Camaraderie and Musical Talent

 

By Jody Ewing
November 28, 2007

‘Tis the season for Christmas carols, festive parties and exchanging gifts, and bestselling recording artist Jim Brickman is no stranger to any of the three.

Ever since his song “The Gift” became a huge holiday hit, people have made his holiday music as much a part of their Christmas celebration as Jingle Bells and boughs of holly. For over a decade, his holiday concerts have been festive musical homecomings for a growing number of fans of the dynamic composer, radio personality and concert headliner.

But it is in the sharing – the onstage exchanging of musical talent both fresh and familiar – where the Gold and Platinum selling artist captures the very essence of the significant role music plays in so many lives. The warmth and intimacy of Brickman’s holiday concerts have been compared to a gathering of friends and family that resonates with true Christmas spirit. Listening is like coming home.

“We celebrate the feeling of home and family by creating a warm, inviting family environment onstage, then sharing that with our audience,” Brickman says of the holiday tour.

Homecoming is Jim’s aptly titled newest holiday album and also the theme for his 2007 holiday concert tour, where he shares the spotlight with gifted violinist David Klinkenberg, Emmy award-winning songwriter Victoria Shaw, and Richie McDonald, the former lead singer and songwriter behind one of America’s most successful country bands, Lonestar. The three will perform with Brickman on Wednesday, November 28, at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls, SD, before heading on to the Riverside Theatre in Milwaukee, WI, on the 29th and the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, IN, November 30th.

As the voice of Lonestar, McDonald launched such huge hits as “Amazed,” “My Front Porch Looking In” and the song that’s become a special favorite of the U.S. Military and their families at home, “I’m Already There.”

McDonald also is the voice behind “Coming Home for Christmas,” a beautiful song on Brickman’s new Homecoming CD. The CD is filled with “Brickmanized” holiday favorites as well as other soon-to-be classics like “I Heard the Bells” (featuring Anne Cochran and Peter White) and a very special holiday performance of the late Gerald Levert’s”My Angel.”

David Klinkenberg and Tracy Silverman also make special guest appearances on the Homecoming album.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of Richie’s work,” said Brickman, who not only invited McDonald to co-write the song, but also to kick off his solo career by joining him on the holiday tour this year. “Our audiences share a lot of joyful spirit with us, and it becomes such a positive, rewarding family experience. It’s a return to the simple traditions of the season, with great music and camaraderie.”

Each year, as more and more people and fans have discovered the Jim Brickman holiday magic, his name has become synonymous with new holiday classics and brilliant interpretations of beloved carols. Another of his songs, “Sending You A Little Christmas,” also has become a holiday standard.

All of Jim Brickman’s Christmas concerts are special homecomings: for himself, his musical guest artists, and the thousands of audience members who return year after year to experience the spirit of the season in an evening of magical music.

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Jody Ewing is a freelance writer based in western Iowa and will travel to Sioux Falls – along with six other family members – to the holiday concert that’s become one of her family’s annual traditions.

Read Jody’s earlier interview with Jim Brickman here.

Visit Jim’s website at: www.jimbrickman.com