Jim Brickman feels 'Magic of Christmas' in melodies of hymns and carols

Jim Brickman, as with most celebrities, becomes uncomfortable when asked the tough questions.

Speaking with Music Times, "America's romantic piano sensation" waffles between which version of "Jingle Bells" -as performed by Peanuts character Schroeder- he enjoys most. Schroeder's spotlight moment during A Charlie Brown Christmas features him demonstrating various versions of the chestnut for Lucy.

Brickman, who likens himself to Schroeder ("In the middle of the chaos, just me and my piano"), ultimately dodges the question, opting instead to praise the classic, bobbing score that jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi composed for the television special. It's a fair segue; the pianist counts A Charlie Brown Christmas among his favorites and emulated Guaraldi's style as an inspiration for the "classic" tone of his new Christmas compilation, The Magic of Christmas.

If anyone knows anything about shades of tone within Christmas music, it's Brickman. The performer admits to losing track of how many holiday albums he's put out (seven, by our count). Brickman keeps revisiting the sub-genre because he finds the season's standards are ripe for musicians such as himself to pick.

"I love the hymns and carols...'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' or 'Angels We Have Heard on High'...they have the most beautiful melodies...easier to interpret," he said. "My music lends itself to Christmas. The nostalgia, the emotional connection, the hopefulness."

Brickman displayed all three during his December 12 performance at The Town Hall in New York City. The audience interpreted Brickman's nostalgia in its own ways, but the performer seemed to get lost in his solo instrumentals, staring into the empty space above the audience with a contented smile passing across his face, seemingly reflecting on memories of Christmases past or envisioning the Christmas yet to come. The theater itself was somewhat drafty, but Brickman's tone emanated warmth like the glow from the windows of a Thomas Kinkade painting.

Much like Kinkade, Brickman is an oft-forgotten yet omnipresent element of the holidays. And life in general. Guaraldi's "Lucy and Linus" may be the first piano tune associated with the season, but Brickman's repertoire makes just as many appearances on Christmas radio (albeit appearances less recognized by the casual listener). Many, however, associate his biggest hits with the popular vocalists who records them. His most recognizable Christmas original, 1997's "The Gift," is often mistaken as the work of country vocalists Susan Ashton and Collin Raye, who sing over Brickman's piano backing. That same year found Brickman's "Valentine" placing on both the country and adult contemporary charts, although he's the first to admit that it may be thanks to Martina McBride's appearance on the track.

"People don't know it's mine, which stands to reason. This is something I've dealt with my whole career," Brickman said, comparing his issues with those of other instrumentalist bandleaders, such as Burt Bacharach and Carlos Santana. "I don't blame people for that. The choice to have vocals...by nature that's going to happen. It's important to think of myself as a songwriter instead of a star."

That philosophy was in practice onstage at The Town Hall. Brickman didn't lobby for attention while guest musician Tracy Silverman noodled Led Zeppelin solos from his electric violin, nor while vocalist Anne Cochran stood before his piano wearing a variety of glittering dresses.

"It's easy to perform with him," said Cochran, who attended high school with Brickman in Cleveland and has toured with him since 1998. "He loves [sharing the spotlight] and encourages it. It creates good entertainment, and he'll go for anything that creates entertainment."

Even Brickman gets surprised by his own omnipresence, sometimes finding himself greeted by himself during day-to-day activities. He related incidents where, upon calling CHASE Bank to check his balance, he heard a familiar pianist while on hold. He had the television on in the background during the 2010 Winter Olympics, and he heard his music begin playing during one of NBC's inspirational shorts about a participating skier.

Regardless of how familiar listeners are with his name, the craft of Christmas has paid off. After seventeen Christmas tours, Brickman has sold more than seven million records. Many of those sales stem from product-placement deals with companies such as Target ("They're usually by the cards and candles," he notes wryly), and much of his reputation stems from his title of "America's romantic piano sensation".

Brickman acknowledges the nickname with a smirk, but it holds a kernel of truth. Violinist Tracy Silverman met his wife while on tour with Brickman. The tour's lighting operator also met his wife while traveling with Brickman. The pianist invited his parents-at that point divorced 35 years-on his yearly fan cruise, and they ended up together again (although he admits arranging for the pair to stay in the same room). Despite his somewhat satirical descriptions of himself, Brickman fully believes in the powers of his music.

Thus, there seemed to be a different mood in the air when Brickman began playing a short medley of Guaraldi's Peanuts hits at The Town Hall. "Christmas Time Is Here," a classic from the score, often represents a holiday soundtrack for the downtrodden, but as Brickman gazes up from his keyboard, the major chords start to take precedence. It feels like Charlie Brown might get that little red-haired girl after all.