Ramsey Lewis and Nancy Wilson

Usually, to call living artists legendary is to overvalue their past creative efforts while subjecting recent material to unfair and dismissive comparisons. Pianist Ramsey Lewis and vocalist Nancy Wilson avoid such pitfalls thanks to a shared sense of artistry that not only endures but also continues to grow. Meant to Be, the duo’s first release since its 1984 collaboration The Two of Us, celebrates its incredible chemistry. Covering Van Morrison’s lilting “Moondance” and the jazz classic “Peel Me a Grape,” Lewis and Wilson have no trouble rendering this disc’s title elegantly appropriate. From developing their talents at an early age through church music groups to establishing their reputations as highly respected jazz performers in the ’50s to crossing over into pop and R&B waters in the ’60s and ’70s, Lewis and Wilson have followed parallel paths. This shared ground helps cement a musical connection bolstered by a close, decades-old friendship.