Alley Cat Strut Oscar Holden Work

"Look at that," Oscar chuckled to the bassist, never breaking his stride. "That cat’s got a better meter than half the cats in the union."

It’s barrelhouse blues dressed in a tuxedo vest that’s missing a few buttons. Holden’s signature is the stutter —a rhythmic hiccup that makes the beat trip over itself just before it recovers. It’s nervous, proud, and deeply human. alley cat strut oscar holden