Acclaimed jazz vocalist Jose James performs an outstanding cover of jazz legend Billie Holiday’s mournful “Strange Fruit.”
As part of his 88-minute set featuring exclusively Billie Holiday covers at a show in Belgium earlier this year, the New York based singer performed this moving remake of the iconic song in memory of Trayvon Martin; the 17 year old young shot and killed by 28 year old George Zimmerman in Florida earlier this year.
First recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939, Jose’s version is an outstanding tribute to both Holiday and Trayvon Martin – listen below.
Below, Jose James explains why Billie Holiday is such a huge influence on him and his music:
