Bean recruited artists to record with her at Apollo Theater in Harlem, N.Y. without an audience in the seats.
She sold out shows at the Apollo the last two years and didn't want to miss a chance this year to share the music. She said the pandemic has highlighted why the arts are important.
"I hope that people — those of us who make art for a living and those who are patrons of the arts — are that much more grateful," Bean said. "It was our books and our movies and our live concerts ... it was artistic content that got you through this pandemic."