In the key of collaboration
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, February 23, 2007
Martina McBride may seem like the perfect person to sing Jim Brickman's songs. But she wasn't everyone's first choice to perform his "Valentine."
"People said, 'I can't believe you're using a country singer,'" Brickman recalls. "But I never thought of her in those terms. She was a good singer who just happened to sing country. Now, nobody thinks twice about the kind of music people sing."
Good thing, too. On his latest CD, "Escape," Brickman performs with country's Sara Evans and rhythm and blues' Gerald Levert. Worlds apart? Perhaps. But that's the world Brickman lives in -- one that embraces all kinds of music.
Growing up in Ohio, the pianist listened to Carly Simon, Fleetwood Mac, ABBA and the Carpenters.
Karen Carpenter, in fact, is the one performer "I wanted to write for my whole career. I've always admired Kenny Loggins and Olivia Newton-John and Carly Simon -- and I worked with them -- but Karen was one of a kind. She had such a beautiful voice."
Brother Richard, Brickman says, was a masterful producer, able to layer voices and produce unique music. ABBA, he says, "wrote some of the best pop songs ever."
And yet, Brickman isn't about to limit his musical tastes to pop, adult contemporary or easy listening. He likes rock and country, too. And he's not about to close the door on anything else that's produced.
Eclectic tastes? You bet. But that's why Brickman collaborates with such a wide variety of people. "I could have fallen into the category where you're a Jay Leno punchline. But I've been able to work with some amazing people who have the respect of the industry."
Thus the duets.
Familiar with the Nashville music scene, Brickman considered pairing with Wynonna or Trisha Yearwood on "Never Alone." "Trisha said she had an album coming out about the same time and Wynonna had this glut of guest appearances, so I asked Sara." The result taps into both performers' strengths, suggesting another hit of "Valentine" proportions.
The Levert collaboration, though, was Brickman goal for years. The two attended the same high school in Ohio and, the pianist says, wanted to work together. "He had a huge career when I was in college. Even though we represented different musical sensibilities, we came from the same place."
They joined forces on "My Angel" and were able to perform together at the House of Blues in Cleveland last year. Surprisingly, it turned out to be Levert's last performance. He died three months ago following a lethal combination of over-the-counter medication and prescription drugs.
Now, Brickman says, he talks about Levert in his concerts, but hasn't performed the song with someone else. Instead, the latest tour features a mix of hits and selections from "Escape" -- aural proof of his diversity.
That eclectic quality, he says, comes from "different moments, different experiences, different influences. I could be at a sound check and be inspired to write something. Being around music and musicians is more inspiring than just sitting around at home."
Still, writing is not about desire, Brickman says. "Sometimes there's a fear that I'll never write another hit. Sometimes it's more about wanting to be good and not trying to let that block me. Sometimes I have to force myself into the moment. Sometimes, I can just walk by the piano and come up with something.
"If you're writing with someone, that brings out different things in you."
Sometimes a vacation also can prove inspiring. Before the current tour began, Brickman hosted a cruise to Belize, Cozumel and the Yucatan Peninsula. Vacationing with 400 fans, he got a chance to discover what they liked best (Brickman karaoke, anyone?) and got to kick back with friends and family.
"Touring is an interesting thing," he says. "It brings out different things in you and, no, it's not conducive to writing." Experiences, though, form germs of songs. Songs lead to albums. Albums bring fans.
Writing love songs, though, isn't as easy as it sounds. "You don't want to sound sappy or like a greeting card. You want a sensibility that feels like someone is talking to them, turning to them and sharing their feelings with them. It can't be too rhymey, it can't be too convoluted."
When all the forces come together -- as in "Valentine" -- the results can be amazing. Following their collaboration, McBride moved from "Wild Angels" to a string of heartfelt songs. Brickman climbed the charts and became the go-to guy for singers.
"I don't think of myself as a pianist," he says. "My sensibility is as a songwriter. It allows me to break down the barriers of a genre or a style and, on one album, have Gerald Levert and Sara Evans."
"People said, 'I can't believe you're using a country singer,'" Brickman recalls. "But I never thought of her in those terms. She was a good singer who just happened to sing country. Now, nobody thinks twice about the kind of music people sing."
Good thing, too. On his latest CD, "Escape," Brickman performs with country's Sara Evans and rhythm and blues' Gerald Levert. Worlds apart? Perhaps. But that's the world Brickman lives in -- one that embraces all kinds of music.
Growing up in Ohio, the pianist listened to Carly Simon, Fleetwood Mac, ABBA and the Carpenters.
Karen Carpenter, in fact, is the one performer "I wanted to write for my whole career. I've always admired Kenny Loggins and Olivia Newton-John and Carly Simon -- and I worked with them -- but Karen was one of a kind. She had such a beautiful voice."
Brother Richard, Brickman says, was a masterful producer, able to layer voices and produce unique music. ABBA, he says, "wrote some of the best pop songs ever."
And yet, Brickman isn't about to limit his musical tastes to pop, adult contemporary or easy listening. He likes rock and country, too. And he's not about to close the door on anything else that's produced.
Eclectic tastes? You bet. But that's why Brickman collaborates with such a wide variety of people. "I could have fallen into the category where you're a Jay Leno punchline. But I've been able to work with some amazing people who have the respect of the industry."
Thus the duets.
Familiar with the Nashville music scene, Brickman considered pairing with Wynonna or Trisha Yearwood on "Never Alone." "Trisha said she had an album coming out about the same time and Wynonna had this glut of guest appearances, so I asked Sara." The result taps into both performers' strengths, suggesting another hit of "Valentine" proportions.
The Levert collaboration, though, was Brickman goal for years. The two attended the same high school in Ohio and, the pianist says, wanted to work together. "He had a huge career when I was in college. Even though we represented different musical sensibilities, we came from the same place."
They joined forces on "My Angel" and were able to perform together at the House of Blues in Cleveland last year. Surprisingly, it turned out to be Levert's last performance. He died three months ago following a lethal combination of over-the-counter medication and prescription drugs.
Now, Brickman says, he talks about Levert in his concerts, but hasn't performed the song with someone else. Instead, the latest tour features a mix of hits and selections from "Escape" -- aural proof of his diversity.
That eclectic quality, he says, comes from "different moments, different experiences, different influences. I could be at a sound check and be inspired to write something. Being around music and musicians is more inspiring than just sitting around at home."
Still, writing is not about desire, Brickman says. "Sometimes there's a fear that I'll never write another hit. Sometimes it's more about wanting to be good and not trying to let that block me. Sometimes I have to force myself into the moment. Sometimes, I can just walk by the piano and come up with something.
"If you're writing with someone, that brings out different things in you."
Sometimes a vacation also can prove inspiring. Before the current tour began, Brickman hosted a cruise to Belize, Cozumel and the Yucatan Peninsula. Vacationing with 400 fans, he got a chance to discover what they liked best (Brickman karaoke, anyone?) and got to kick back with friends and family.
"Touring is an interesting thing," he says. "It brings out different things in you and, no, it's not conducive to writing." Experiences, though, form germs of songs. Songs lead to albums. Albums bring fans.
Writing love songs, though, isn't as easy as it sounds. "You don't want to sound sappy or like a greeting card. You want a sensibility that feels like someone is talking to them, turning to them and sharing their feelings with them. It can't be too rhymey, it can't be too convoluted."
When all the forces come together -- as in "Valentine" -- the results can be amazing. Following their collaboration, McBride moved from "Wild Angels" to a string of heartfelt songs. Brickman climbed the charts and became the go-to guy for singers.
"I don't think of myself as a pianist," he says. "My sensibility is as a songwriter. It allows me to break down the barriers of a genre or a style and, on one album, have Gerald Levert and Sara Evans."
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Claire wrote on Feb 23, 2007 4:49 AM: