The Soul of the Standard

Dear Friends,

I’m thrilled to invite you on a new musical journey I’m calling “The Soul of the Standard.”

As a pianist and vocalist, the songs from the Great American Songbook and the “New Standards” of our time are more than just chord changes—they are beautiful vessels that hold our shared history and a profound call to return to our innocence.

My Philosophy: Celebrating the Melody

In this series, I’ll be sharing the versions of these songs that have shaped my musical soul. When it comes to “renewing” a classic, my philosophy is centered on the melody as the guiding light.

I deeply admire artists like Pat Metheny, who can expand the harmonic walls of a song while keeping its heart fully intact. To me, the magic of a standard is its “original face”—that recognizable essence that allows us to explore new musical territory while staying connected to the song’s roots. I believe we can beautifully expand the house while honoring the foundation that makes it home.

The Artist’s Lens

My perspective and bias is shaped by my own love for the piano; I am instinctively attracted to piano-centered arrangements that let the instrument’s unique sound shine through the standard.

What to Expect

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be spotlighting songs from my own repertoire, and look at how these songs have evolved across generations.

You might wonder why we should listen to the same song in so many different ways. My hope is that this unique listening experience—hearing these various renditions back-to-back—will allow the “soul of the standard” to burst from your heart in a way you’ve never heard before.

Listen Along

To accompany these posts, I will be providing a curated playlist that you can listen to on your own preferred platform—whether that is Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music. My goal is to make these tracks easily available so you can fully immerse yourself in the music I’ve intended for you to hear.

With warmth and harmony,

Bastiaan Berende