Born from a quiet prayer offered by a young college freshman watching a master pianist from afar, Nearness is an extraordinary, stripped-back masterclass 25 years in the making. Featuring just Lizz Wright’s dark, spellbinding alto and Kenny Banks Sr.’s brilliant piano and organ architecture, this intimate 11-track collection explores a lifetime of shared roots and platonic love. Moving seamlessly from the joyful swing of “Just You, Just Me” to the deep, bluesy soul of “Amazing Grace” and the sharp, regal reclamation of traditional spirituals like “Soon I Will Be Done,” Nearness captures two powerhouse artists operating at the very apex of collaborative intuition and faith.