José James' album tribute to Lady Day

Singer José James is releasing “Yesterday I Had The Blues: The Music of Billie Holiday”, on Blue Note Records on March 30th. The album is a 9 song musical tribute to Billie in this her centenary year. James has recorded his own takes on Billie Holiday classics including ‘Good Morning Heartache’, ‘God Bless The Child’ and ’Strange Fruit’, a song inspired by the horror of lynchings in the American Deep South.

The album was recorded at Sear Sound in New York City and produced by Blue Note President Don Was with a trio featuring pianist Jason Moran, drummer Eric Harland and bass player John Patitucci.

“Billie Holiday is my musical mother, who I go to when I need answers. This is my tribute to her,” James said. “I rediscovered Billie during a difficult period of my teenage years. As much as I loved Nirvana, De La Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest, her music spoke to me on a much deeper level. Her work was mastery - of pain, of trauma, of faith in music and the power of transformation. I had found my teacher. Billie Holiday made me want to be a jazz singer and set me on the path that I'm walking today.“

Billie Holiday, knick named Lady Day, was born on April 7, 1915 and to this day is still considered to be among the most influential jazz singers of all time.

Track list:

1. Good Morning Heartache
2. Body and Soul
3. Fine and Mellow
4. I Thought About You
5. What a Little Moonlight Can Do
6. Tenderly
7. Lover Man
8. God Bless the Child
9. Strange Fruit