Jimmy “Duck” Holmes: It Is What It Is

Amongst the blues greats like B.B. King and Josh White are a vast collection of strong musicians around that same bend, with storied histories including a long-spanning and respectable career, who just have not shared the same level of fame that they arguably should have. One of the bluesmen leading that charge is none other than a proprietor of a famous café on the Mississippi Blues Trail, the Blue Front Café — Jimmy “Duck” Holmes.

“Duck”, as they call him, is a respected figure in the blues scene, known primarily for his role in the founding of Bentonia-styled blues at his juke joint, and for being one of the longest-standing purveyors of country blues to this day. Even having been recorded by the revered field collector Alan Lomax back in 1970, it comes as a surprise that Duck didn’t release his first album until 2006, when the Blues Trail was first established. Still, it’s better than late than never for nearly 70 year-old artist, featuring a gritty Holmes front-and-center with his trademark guitar. In blues, the music speaks for itself — and this is good blues music.