What happens when one of the greatest vocalists in jazz joins forces with one of the best pianists? New music, of course!

Award-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater and revered pianist Bill Charlap announce the release of their first collaborative album Elemental, coming out June 13 via Mack Avenue Records. Elemental is a return to the jazz tradition featuring songs from the Great American Songbook brought to you by two legends in the world of jazz today.

Although known for their respective celebrated careers, Bridgewater and Charlap are also known for their incredible live performances together, both as guest artists on each other’s respective tours. Now, they bring that magic from the stage to the studio to create this beautiful piece of work.

“I woke one morning and a voice said, ‘Bill Charlap,’ Bridgewater explained in a statement. “I was really quite dumbfounded because it seemed like such an unlikely pairing for me. My perception and my understanding of Bill changed completely after we got together, I knew that he was steeped in the American songbook, but I did not know the degree of his extreme knowledge. I was blown away by Bill’s sensitivity as a pianist, his wealth of knowledge and the references that he can call upon when he’s playing. I mean, he’s an encyclopedia. I have never before in all of my years worked with a musician with whom I could so completely relax and be myself.”

“I have always been and continue to be a huge fan of Dee Dee Bridgewater,” Charlap says. “I was delighted at the prospect of us working together, but I assumed she would be guesting with my trio. When I was told no, Dee Dee wanted to do this as a duo, all of a sudden a bunch of lights went on…Dee Dee Bridgewater is a giant of a musician,” he says. “A brilliant vocalist, but just as much an actor, just as much a storyteller, just as much a risk taker…That makes her unlike anybody else historically.”

The lead single, “Honeysuckle Rose” is a modern reimagining of the Fats Waller classic. “Fats Waller was a playful musician and wrote lyrics that reflected this characteristic,” says Bridgewater. “Bill and I wanted to emulate this quality on ‘Honeysuckle Rose,’ hence our approach. We’re skipping, holding musical hands, whistling, playing hide and seek, taking gentle jabs at each other like children on a playground, all in the moment, unrehearsed, improvised in real time.”

Elemental by Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap comes out June 13 on Mack Avenue Records. Pre-Orders for the album are available here.