Ballads
Studio album by David Murray
Released	1988
Recorded	January 1988
Genre	Jazz
Length	46:31
Label	DIW
Producer	Kazunori Sugiyama
David Murray chronology
New Life (1986) Ballads (1988) Deep River (1988)

Ballads is a jazz album by David Murray released on the Japanese DIW label in 1988. It features six quartet performances by Murray with Fred Hopkins, Dave Burrell and Ralph Peterson Jr.

The Allmusic review by Stephen Cook awarded the album 3 stars stating "Ballads is an excellent set on all levels and even the sound is superb. One of the best albums of the '80s. ". ^[1]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[2]
Tom Hull	A [3]

1. "Valley Talk" (Burrell) – 7:14
2. "Love in Resort" – 4:44
3. "Ballad for the Black Man" – 11:02
4. "Paradise Five" – 8:19
5. "Lady in Black" (Peterson) – 8:00
6. "Sarah's Lament" (Burrell) – 7:12

All compositions by David Murray except as indicated

• David Murray – tenor saxophone
• Dave Burrell – piano
• Fred Hopkins – bass
• Ralph Peterson, Jr. – drums