In between, a three-piece house band plays mournful Russian ballads.

It's probably also due to the fact that Stanley is always very sincere about what he does; he just wants to play ballads.

"Mozart has helped tremendously in the trio, playing ballads."

Here they play only ballads, knocking them out of the park with a grace that seems effortless.

And he'd been playing old Russian ballads to a ghost.

He has played pop music, dance, synth pop and ballads.

"And playing ballads, there's no one like him."

Bush bands also play bush ballads, many of which date to the 19th century.

"For the most part we played ballads on the pretty side, rather than swinging them like Benny Goodman."

The instrument served her concert performance best when she played slow, melodic tunes, blues and ballads.