Willie Nelson's The Nearness of You

Available August 25

Nelson was an old scoundrel when he first mined the Great American Songbook way back on 1978's Stardust. On The Nearness of You there's even more grit in his throat — and more guest stars, too. Jazz giants Joe Sample and Christian McBride lend piano and bass skills while Diana Krall and Norah Jones swing by to provide a sweet vocal counterpoint. And in the middle of it all is the ol' redhead, making the most important songs in American pop culture sound easy and intimate.

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