Most noteworthy Cleveland Institute of Music alumni perform while sitting in orchestral chairs or standing next to conductors. Pianist Jim Brickman has built a whole different kind of career. To some, his compositions are background music; to others, it’s good date music. He doesn’t mind either setting. Brickman credits CIM theory professor Marshall Griffith with helping him find his musical personality. He began his professional career with a music-advertising company that cranked out jingles for McDonald’s, Pontiac and Kellogg’s. Brickman still has a music-marketing business, Brickhouse Direct, but these days he mostly pushes his own songs, including those on his latest CD, Beautiful World. His current tour features guest vocalist Anne Cochran, electric violinist Tracy Silverman and others who appear on the album. In addition to Latin- and Celtic-influenced cuts from the record, Brickman will perform songs from throughout his career as well as some traditional seasonal tunes. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. at PlayhouseSquare's Palace Theatre (1615 Euclid Ave., 216.241.6000). Tickets: $10-$60. — Michael Gill
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