I think there’s a bit of background music here, but close enough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa_7cuGMIGg
Elton John, “Empty Garden”
Gareth Emery, the highly regarded trance producer, did a series of videos featuring just him playing the piano together with the vocalists who appeared on his top tracks. (They are all available on YouTube.) Here is a really beautiful one:
SAVING LIGHT Unplugged - Gareth Emery and HALIENE
(Here is the original mix of the song.)
Years ago, I saw Randy Newman performing “Just One Smile” on a PBS special. Just him and the piano, and it was heartbreaking. I haven’t been able to find it, but the closest is a version by Scott Walker, though that has added strings.
Both of these songs have plenty of other instruments:
Imagine
John Lennon – vocals, piano
Klaus Voormann – bass
Alan White – drums
The Flux Fiddlers – strings
Jealous Guy
John Lennon – vocals, acoustic guitar, whistling
Nicky Hopkins – piano
John Barham – harmonium
Alan White – vibraphone
Klaus Voormann – bass
Jim Keltner – drums
Mike Pinder – tambourine
Joey Molland and Tom Evans – acoustic guitars
The Flux Fiddlers – strings
Billy Joel - She’s Always a Woman
Mostly just piano, but I also hear a flute, or maybe it’s a clarinet. There may be some other instruments.
And Fauré ! Après un Rêve
As always with this composer, I love the little accidentals that are like subtly changing light on water.
Ô Nuit, rends-moi tes mensonges (Oh Night, give me your lies back)
Tim Minchin - White Wine in the sun
A christmas non-carol good enough to be a national anthem.
One of my favorite Prince songs of all time, “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore?”
Tom Waits singing I Can’t Wait To Get Off Work (And See My Baby On Montgomery Avenue)
Elton John - Goodbye England’s Rose (Candle in the Wind)
Kate Bush - Under the Ivy and this version of Man With The Child In His Eyes.
Not *entirely *piano, but I love Bat For Lashes’ Laura
Peter Hammill - Vision (studio album track (1971) or live (1978 & 2018)
And lyrics, if you want.
I’ve been a fan since the early 70s…
Or there’s Mark Eitzel with All My Love. He’s often sounds very emotional, but usually with a guitar, or more instrumentation.
A lot of early Tom Waits is just piano and vocals. I was thinking there were a few songs from “Closing Time” that fit the OP, but it’s been a while since I listened to that album and can’t think of anything specific.
John Hiatt, Have a Little Faith was the first I thought of. Saw him last month - great solo show.
And I offer this little romantic ditty from Nighthawks. Sure, the bass and brushes join him, but the piano-backed intro cracks me up every time! “I’m not WEIRD about it or anything - heh-heh-heh.”
Case Of You, Diana Krall
Billy Joel’s Piano Man, except for the intro harmonica.
Lullaby for a Stormy Night - Vienna Teng
I love this song so much. I frequently sing it to my son even when it’s not stormy. I knew the artist in high school. She was the choir accompanist, so I knew she was a stellar piano player. I had no idea she had that voice.
Essra Mohawk - Looking Forward to the Dawn
