Music for simple things from Jim Brickman

Simple Things is the title of the latest album from pianist and composer Jim Brickman. That it is the number one selling album in Billboard magazine’s Adult Contemporary chart comes as no surprise. The man is a genius as far as finding ways of creating easy listening music that pleases both the blasé urbanite and the hick town geek is concerned. Think of an instrumental Perry Como or of a David Foster during the days of Saint Elmo’s Fire. Think of simple melodies that sound as though they are insulated in a cocoon of serenity and you will have a good idea of what Brickman’s work sounds like.

Simple is a word that aptly describes the music of Jim Brickman. No frills. No loose ends. Just plain melodic piano-playing that suggests life that is pretty and nice, romantic and sweet. But then simple is also too simple a term to use in referring to his work because Brickman’s creativity transcends the ordinary. Truth to tell, it would be easier to dissect an artist’s bravado and intense passion than find how something so naive can also be so affecting.

Just like his collection of short essays compiled in a book also titled Simple Things, the contents of Brickman’s new album bring to mind mundane events in an idyllic setting. No champagne. Just orange juice. Twilight with good scents coming from the kitchen and children all sweaty from play getting cleaned up in the bathroom. Mornings of waking up to the smell of freshly laundered sheets and to the sound of birds chirping. Evenings that end with the heady scent of wet flowers after an evening’s drizzle.

Check out this album and then think of all those wonderful homey memories Brickman’s melodies bring to mind this time around. The cuts included are The Promise, Catching Twilight, Night Rain, Another Tuesday Morning, Gate 41, Waiting for You, Journey, Devotion, One and Only, Serenade and A Mother’s Day.

Rebecca Lynn Howard sings the title track, Simple Things. Will she soon become as famous as Martina McBride, who went on to make more hits after singing My Valentine as a guest in one of Brickman’s albums? There is also the famous boy group All-4-One, which performs the album’s closing song It Must Be You. Do we see more exciting career prospects from these guys after this stint with Brickman?

Hopefully. But lying in wait for the future makes no sense. The best thing to do now is enjoy Brickman’s simple way of making music that truly soothes the frazzled nerves.

Jim Brickman will be in Manila for performances at the PICC Plenary Hall on March 14 and 15. Guesting in his show will be Sharon Cuneta. Expect her to perform In Your Eyes and Where’s the Good in Goodbye, and Joey Generoso of the Side A band. The Philippine stop is part of Brickman’s Asian tour to promote Simple Things. He is also slated to do a concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and to visit Bangkok, Thailand and Hong Kong, China.

If you want more Brickman, you should not miss grabbing a listen of his earlier releases. No Words, By Heart, Picture This, The Gift, Destiny and My Romance: An Evening with Jim Brickman. The Gift, Your Love and Valentine are some of his hit songs.

Top-selling singles

Jennifer Lopez leads the roost in the US of A with a number one selling single and album in the Billboard hit charts this week. Here now is the list of the top-selling singles: Ain’t It Funny by J. Lo featuring Ja Rule; Always on Time by Ja Rule featuring Ashanti; How You Remind Me by Nickelback; In the End by Linkin Park; Hey Baby by No Doubt; Wherever You Will Go by The Calling; U Got It Bad by Usher; What About Us? by Brandy; My Sacrifice by Creed; Blurry by Puddle of Mudd.

A collection of remixed recordings by the career savvy J. Lo keeps the lovely singer-actress on top despite the absence of new recordings or motion pictures and even tours. The top 10 albums in the US of A are J To Tha L-O! The Remixes by Jennifer Lopez; [Hybrid Theory] by Linkin Park; Drive by Alan Jackson; The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin by Kirk Franklin; Word of Mouf by Ludacris; Weathered by Creed; Silver Side Up by Nickelback; M!ssundaztood by Pink; Britney by Britney Spears; and Come Clean by Puddle of Mudd.