"By heart" is a succinct and accurate appraisal of a lovely, low-key album of 11 piano solos (with occasional string embellishments) and a concluding vocal track. By Heart paints a picture of Brickman as a thoughtful, sometimes pensive, creative soul who quietly cherishes idyllic romantic notions yet reluctantly, realistically, acknowledges that they may forever lie just beyond his ever-hopeful grasp. Such a realization, though, does not blunt Brickman's expressive longing at the keyboard, and By Heart unfolds as a touching, clear-eyed chronicle of a restless but gentle heart. The title track, with little-known Laura Creamer handling vocals, offers some of the weakest production yet strongest emotional clout of nearly any vocal selection Brickman has since recorded. Revealing and rewarding listening. --Terry Wood