Alley Cat Strut Oscar Holden Jun 2026

In Ford's novel, the protagonist, Henry Lee, a young Chinese American boy, explores the segregated jazz scene of Seattle during World War II. He discovers the music of a fictionalized version of Oscar Holden. In the story, Holden records "Alley Cat Strut," a jazz piece that becomes a sentimental favorite.

Blended live jazz with archival multimedia to honor incarcerated Japanese Americans. alley cat strut oscar holden

The query refers to a central motif in Jamie Ford's historical novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet . While the song by Oscar Holden In Ford's novel, the protagonist, Henry Lee, a

While Oscar Holden was a real and respected "Patriarch of Seattle Jazz," the song "Alley Cat Strut" is a brilliant piece of fiction created by Ford to symbolize forbidden love, resilience, and the cultural fusion of 1940s Seattle. 1. The Context: Oscar Holden, the Real Jazz Legend Blended live jazz with archival multimedia to honor

The song is a "fast-tempo, jazz improvisation" that Sheldon Thomas, a saxophone player and friend to Henry, plays in the jazz clubs of the era. 3. The Song as a Catalyst for Connection

Most modern listeners are familiar not with Oscar’s solo piano original, but with a later version recorded by in 1954 for the Seattle Jazz Anthology . On that recording, the "Alley Cat Strut" is expanded: