Love Songs and Lullabies

1	Prelude 1:39
2	Little Stars 2:46
3	Love Never Fails / Amy Sky 3:44
4	Shades of White 3:00
5	Above the Clouds 2:36
6	Night Prayer 2:55
7	I See the Moon 2:58
8	Dreamland 2:37
9	Safe and Sound 3:26
10	Beautiful / All-4-One 4:07
11	Course of Love 3:37
12	You / Jane Krakowski 4:08

Barnes & Noble

Seemingly tailor-made for starry-eyed romantics, Love Songs and Lullabies, the eighth solo album from piano man and PBS favorite Jim Brickman, presents a program of lyrical instrumentals along with a handful of songs with featured vocalists. Brickman's knack for spinning out heartwarming melodies is on full display here in a collection ranging from life-affirming love songs to sentimental tunes of melancholy introspection. The instrumental tracks, more often than not, come with only a measure of accompaniment, just enough to provide a lush sonic backdrop to Brickman's piano. The wistful mood of "Night Prayer," for instance, is enhanced by the addition of a solo viola gently chiming in with a lyrical counter-melody. And "Course of Love" (which suggests the Broadway standard "Some Enchanted Evening") comes with a complement of winds and strings tenderly doubling the melody. With "Little Stars," Brickman makes "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" his own in a laid-back rendition reminiscent of George Winston's folksy piano play with well-known tunes. Other tracks -- "Safe and Sound," "Dreamland," "Shades of White" -- seem to offer a lyrical space for head-in-the-clouds contemplation. Standout vocal numbers include Amy Sky's interpretation of "Love Never Fails" (with lyrics from Corinthians), All-4-One's yearning "Beautiful," and Ally McBeal's Jane Krakowski on the love ballad "You." All in only 38 minutes, it's a Brickman fest that this keyboardist's many fans won't want to be without. EJ Johnson

All Music Guide

Although the enormously popular Brickman has long been known as a romantic piano sensation, a close study of his beautiful recordings has shown him to be a true fan of children's lullabies as well as pretty instrumental and vocal love songs. This time, he's unabashed about the role his piano may play in lulling children to beddy-bye. Most of the titles have a nocturnal theme and center around a slow, gentle tempo. "Little Stars" is a playful improvisation on "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," in fact. The one thing Brickman's fans have come to expect is consistency, and once again he delivers a handful of sweet, to-the-point melodies, mostly with solo piano. A few tracks feature Tracy Silverman, who plays violin on "Above the Clouds" and viola on "Night Prayer," and Brickman uses an orchestra for the first time on the gorgeous, lush "Course of Love" from TV's Guiding Light. Brickman has worked with a steady stream of top singers since the success of "Valentine," his hit with Martina McBride. This collection's offerings include tracks with the vocal group All-4-One, Amy Sky (a musical interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13), and actress Jane Krakowski. For variety and added intimacy, Brickman himself sings his adaptation of the whimsical kiddie tune "I See the Moon." Another extreme crowd-pleaser from one of contemporary music's most likable composers and performers. Jonathan Widran