Pinoys fell in love again with Grammy-nominated songwriter and romantic piano sensation Jim Brickman during his two-hour live performance at the Eastwood Mall Open Park last Wednesday, October 28.
And with the performances of international singer John Trones, local crooner Christian Bautista, and singer Gail Blanco, it's like the audience was transported into a Beautiful World, which is the title of the pianist's newly released album.
Christian Bautista opened the show with "Never Far Away," the ASAP mainstay's vocal addition to Jim Brickman's latest musical collection featuring all-new material, written and composed by the celebrated pianist. Christian is the only Filipino featured in the new album.
Moments later, Jim appreared clad in a striped, sky-blue polo shirt that complemented the romantic backdrop of flickering lights set against a hanging blue drape. In the middle of the stage, stood a black grand piano that, along with the elaborate stage design, seemed to dominate the starry midnight sky.
Jim begun, "I am thrilled to be back in the Philippines. It's been about five or six years since I've been here. I feel like it's home every time I come here because I am welcomed so, so wonderfully by all of you. It means so much to me that you're here tonight."
The songwriter-pianist has visted the country for about "15 times," he added.
MUSIC AND ROMANCE. Despite the technical difficulties caused by some piano keys failing to resonate properly, the concert went on rather fluidly. Jim, who has been playing the piano since he was five, started the night with an instrumental from Beautiful World called "Countryside."
Next in his repertoire was the children's classic, "Rainbow Connection," which he performed recently with Sesame Street's Kermit the Frog. Jim pulled off a one-man performance for this song—he sang his part, imitated Kermit's croaky voice, and also played the piano.
He mentioned that his duet with the famous puppet recently happened in an event commemorating Jim Henson's Muppets for a postage stamp ceremony.
Jim's little bit of trivia was about his stint in Sesame Street when he was eighteen years old, appearing with favorite puppets Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Ernie and Bert, and other Jim Henson's puppet creations.
After the applauded performance, Jim rendered more songs from his album: "Free To Fly," an instrumental about "being able to go wherever you want to go, [and having] the freedom to be whoever you want to be," plus a song called "Simple Gifts" that Jim himself sang. He said the latter was written to remind everyone of the most important things in life.
The native of Cleveland, Ohio also stressed the significance of romance in everyday life. "We need a little romance in our lives, and music can be a great backdrop," Jim told the crowd. "I just want you to invite me along to whatever romantic moment you're having... just the three of us," he joked.
It will also be interesting to note that Jim has never written about breakup or separation, and only prefers to write about the "hopeful things... positive things, great things, romantic things, idealistic things. That's what I want my music to be about," he confessed.
INSPIRED BY THE PHILIPPINES. After several songs, the night showed no sign of slowing down, still treading the romantic path.
Jim's longtime colleague and singer John Trones rendered his own song "To Hear You Say You Love Me," followed by some of the pianist's more popular compositions, "Love of My Life" (with John Trones), "Destiny" (John Trones and Gail Blanco) and "The Gift" (Gail Blanco).
