Picture This  (Audio CD) 
by Jim Brickman

Pianist Jim Brickman would like you to picture a world that is prettier, more contented, and more emotionally in-tune than the world you probably see through your windshield each day. It may be just wishful thinking, but Brickman's music indulges in the dream anyway, and those inclined to share in the momentary journey will find it is a lovely, often romantic ride. The Cleveland-born pianist understands his strengths and sticks close to the white keys in this very inviting 13-track collection. Brickman specializes in crafting pop-influenced melodies that, to his credit, aim for the heartstrings through intelligence and subdued elegance rather than schmaltz. The album's most circulated cut is its lone vocal selection, the soft-pop hit "Valentine," sung by Martina McBride, but all 12 instrumentals are individual jewels of understated beauty. "Secret Love," for example, opens with sparkling, hopeful passages, followed by the hesitancy and uncertainty of a muted cello, resolved by a flood of expressive flourishes that beautifully convey pent-up romantic release. Even his reworking of "Frère Jacques" suggests a thoughtfulness that can make listeners rethink the tune themselves. A great choice for clear-eyed romantics. --Terry Wood