The Gift

1	Joy to the World 3:12
2	It Came upon a Midnight Clear 2:35
3	Starbright / Kenny Loggins 3:14
4	Angels 3:14
5	Fireside 3:05
6	What Child Is This? 2:43
7	Hope Is Born Again / Point of Grace 3:17
8	Winter Peace 3:13
9	The First Noel 2:39
10	O Christmas Tree 2:22
11	Little Town of Bethlehem 2:14
12	Dream Come True 3:23
13	The Gift / Collin Raye 3:44

Barnes & Noble

Pianist Jim Brickman brings some fresh spirit to Christmas standards and adds new treasures of his own to the holiday music gift bag as well. Brickman plays "Joy to the World" and "Oh, Christmas Tree" with a free and easy swing. On "Angels," he embellishes "Angels We Have Heard on High" with a sassy syncopation, and "The First Noel" is approached like a love song. The halting quality of "Midnight Clear" only increases the wonder and rapture of the special event described in the song. Brickman's original Christmas songs, some with vocals, capture the cozy quality of a fireside glow, but without the words, they probably would not automatically call Christmas to mind. "Hope Born Again" features the women's Christian group Point of Grace; Kenny Loggins solos on "Starbright"; and Collin Raye and Susan Ashton contribute vocals to a sax-driven love song on the title cut. You'll probably never break into Brickman's holiday songs at Christmas sing-alongs, but his songs do make a heartfelt stand for love, and that's what Christmas is all about. Carol Wright

All Music Guide

Pianist Brickman, a favorite of the easy to listen to crowd, brings his ear for melody to a set of holiday favorites. While his forte has been solo piano, here he enlists the aid of Kenny Loggins, Point of Grace and other vocalists as well as some additional instrumentalists. The results are pleasant if not exactly groundbreaking. Ross Boissoneau