Peace (CD - 2003)

Personnel includes: Jim Brickman (piano, keyboards); The Blind Boys Of Alambama, The Malibu Lake Holiday Singers, Ken Stacey, Windy Wagoner, Phoebe Jevtovich, David Grow, Cliff Bemis, Kristy Starling, Collin Raye (vocals); Eric Rigler (penny whistle); Jorgen Carlsson (guitar, bass); Matt Laug (drums, percussion); Chris Rojas, Billy Mann (programming); Anne Cochran (background vocals).

Producers: Jim Brickman, Eddie King, David Grow, Tracy Silverman, Billy Mann.

Recorded at Brickhouse Studios, Studio City, California; Howling Music Studios, Malibu Lake, California.

PEACE was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.

Personnel: Jim Brickman (piano, background vocals); Collin Raye, Kristy Starling, The Blind Boys of Alabama (vocals); Jorgen Carlsson, Bruce Watson (guitar); Ellie Choate (harp); Tracy Silverman (violin, 6-string bass); Peggy Baldwin (cello); Eric Rigler (pennywhistle); Joseph Stone (English horn); David Grow (keyboards, percussion, background vocals); Howard Pfeifer (keyboards); Matt Laug (drums, percussion); Nick Vincent (drums); Billy Mann (keyboard programming, background vocals); Christopher Rojas (keyboard programming); Ken Stacey, David Isaacs, Phoebe Jevtovich, Malibu Lake Holiday Singers, Cliff Bemis, Anne Cochran, Windy Wagner, Monty Allen (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: David Grow.

Liner Note Author: Jim Brickman.

Recording information: Brickhouse Studios, Studio City, CA; Clearlake Studios; Eccolux Studios, New York, NY; Entourage Studios, North Hollywood, CA; Howling Music Studios, Malibu Lake, CA; Megatrax Studios, North Hollywood, CA; OmniSound Studios, Nashville, TN; RMI Studios, New York, NY; Westlake Recorders, Los Angeles, CA.

Photographers: Kevin Merrill; Anne Cochran.

Arrangers: Eddie King ; David Grow; Howard Pfeifer; Jim Brickman; Tracy Silverman; Billy Mann; Christopher Rojas.

For his second holiday outing, pianist Jim Brickman follows the same formula that made 1997's The Gift such a success -- a selection of seasonal favorites combined with new compositions pleasantly performed by Brickman with a few guest vocalists added to break the instrumental mood. Like its predecessor, Peace utilizes the formula well, and the final product can add a lovely musical ambience to quiet holiday evenings. Although the songs with orchestrations or featured vocalists are done quiet well, Brickman sounds his best when working solo as on his own composition, the lovely "Early Snowfall," or with the romantic warmth of "O Holy Night." For the most part, the orchestrations take a back seat to Brickman's piano, and that works well for songs like "We Three Kings" or the unique ballad version of "Jingle Bells," in which he reinvents the song with a reflective tone that is less celebratory yet still full of the holiday spirit. Guest vocalists lend their pipes to Brickman's Christmas vision as the Blind Boys of Alabama, Anne Cochran, and Collin Raye (who also performed on The Gift) break up the instrumentals without intruding on the disc's candlelight atmosphere. The best of the vocal tracks comes from CCM artist Kristy Starling, whose lovely voice enhances "Sending You a Little Christmas," a new song co-written by Brickman. With its adult contemporary pop feel, this song could easily find its way onto the radio for many seasons to come. While Peace is not a must-have in the Brickman catalog, it accomplishes what it sets out to do, which is to add a little romantic joy to the holiday season. ~ Aaron Latham

What sets pianist Jim Brickman apart from much of Windham Hill's roster has been a certain earnest, emotive, evocative style, which unfolds beyond the borders of any genre, somewhere in the woods outside of the jazz, classical, and new age worlds. This music can easily lend itself to the spirit of Christmas, so it's not surprising that Brickman would take to the holidays and record PEACE, his second Christmas album, following 1997's highly-successful THE GIFT.

As with THE GIFT, PEACE is a balance of original Brickman compositions and timeless classics. Also like its predecessor, PEACE is peppered with guest vocalists who pop up to add lyrical cheer. Most satisfying are gospel veterans the Blind Boys of Alabama's haunting yet uplifting throwback take on "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" and gospel up-and-comer Kristy Starling's rendering of Brickman's original composition, the sweetly soulful "Sending You a Little Christmas." Of particular note among the instrumentals is the sober, almost somber take on "Jingle Bells," casting a different light on a much-traveled road. PEACE takes up where THE GIFT left off, a gentle yet inspiring record that could be played late on Christmas Day as the kids experiment with their new toys, the fire still roars with Yuletide fever, and the world seems comfortably aglow. minimize