An appropriately subdued evening with José James

The rain wouldn't let up on Thursday, which was appropriate for the night's theme. Singer José James was in town to cover the work of Billie Holiday, a legendary jazz vocalist whose despondency became her hallmark. In a way, James is the perfect person to convey such melancholy: His rich baritone fully captures Holiday's pain, and his original material is rife with heartbreak and isolation. In March, James released a cover album of Holiday songs, which put emotive spins on "Good Morning Heartac...