Destiny

1	Part Of My Heart 2:34
2	Bittersweet 3:32
3	Meant To Be 3:21
4	Rendezvous / Herb Alpert 3:19
5	Hush Li'l Baby / Carly Simon 3:08
6	Crooked River 3:39
7	Crossroads 3:07
8	Love of My Life 4:00
9	Freedom 3:44
10	By Chance 2:42
11	Remembrance 3:21
12	Your Love / Michelle Wright 3:43
13	Destiny / Jordan Hill 3:48
14	What We Believe In / Pam Tillis Bonus Track 4:00

Barnes & Noble

Jim Brickman first made a name for himself writing advertising jingles. His uncanny ability to touch the masses with music broadened to include romantic piano solos and then vocals. On Destiny, Brickman mixes instrumentals equally with love songs, joined on each by different guest artists. Brickman's piano instrumentals have a lively, springy sound that fills the space; his melodies are lovely and sentimental, yet strong and decisive. On "Bittersweet," cellist Martin Tillman soars with soulful romance, while trumpet legend Herb Alpert offers bold accents on the Latin-flavored "Rendezvous." Romantics, however, are likely to push the repeat button for the vocal numbers. Michael W. Smith sings "Love of My Life" with a powerful sense of awe and wonder. Michelle Wright's rendition of "Your Love" flies with the heady swing of someone totally and joyously smitten. The title tune is a wedding love duet performed by Jordan Hill and Billy Porter. As a bonus track, Pam Tillis sings the eloquent "What We Believe In." The surprise vocal on this album is "Hush Li'l Baby," given a fresh, jazzy twist by Carly Simon. Though there are many different artists here, the album as a whole works smoothly and is thoroughly engaging. For those who think Jim Brickman is the cutest guy on the planet -- and who am I to argue? -- the liner notes offer a foldout poster. Carol Wright

All Music Guide

Anyone soul-stirred by the Cleveland native's 1997 breakthrough Picture This will find the simple, mood-enhancing pleasures of Destiny -- a rich, accomplished work with not one throwaway cut -- a similarly perfect soundtrack to the big romantic interlude in the midst of life's day to day chaos. While Brickman delves a bit more into up-tempo smooth jazz playing over Herb Alpert's brisk, rising harmony lines on the strutting "Rendezvous," for the most part he sticks to his stock in trade: seductive, three-minute long pop songs that range in mood from happy-go-lucky ("Part of My Heart," "Meant to Be," "By Chance") to lilting and melancholy ("Crooked River"). Brickman says he aims to lift the listener into a journey of self-realization and provides the starting points with simple word or phrase titles like "Remembrance" or "Crossroads." He's rarely inclined to use outside harmonic enhancement on these pieces, but Richard Dodd's weeping cello accents on "Bittersweet" add a deeper sensitivity.

Brickman's facile way with a pop piano hook has translated to huge success on the adult contemporary charts, where has scored vocal hits with Martina McBride ("Valentine") and Susan Ashton and Collin Raye ("The Gift"). While Carly Simon's kindly performance on "Hush L'il Baby" keeps Brickman's tradition of including childhood nursery rhymes on every project intact, any of the other three instantly hummable vocal tunes (think power ballads lite) are candidates for first dance wedding songs that can endure through the ages. Michael W. Smith's raspy voice adds thrust to "Love of My Life," while young R&B stars Jordan Hill and Billy Porter make a convincing vow on the soaring title cut. "Your Love" sung by Michelle Wright is, lyrically and melodically, the perfect sequel to "The Gift." Jonathan Widran