Oscar Holden |work| | Alley Cat Strut

In the novel, the song serves as a vital symbol of the bond between the protagonists, Henry Lee and Keiko Okabe.

In Jamie Ford's historical novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet alley cat strut oscar holden

Did have lyrics? Oral history suggests yes. Seattle jazz historian Paul de Barros, in his book "Jackson Street After Dark," recalls that Holden would sometimes sing nonsense verses over the piano during late-night sets at the Washington Social Club . In the novel, the song serves as a

The rain in Seattle didn’t wash things clean; it just made the grime slicker, coating the cobblestones of Post Alley in a layer of black ice that reflected the neon lights like a bruised watercolor painting. Seattle jazz historian Paul de Barros, in his

The main theme is catchy without being cloying. It uses chromatic slides and bluesy grace notes that mimic a cat’s stretch and slink. You’ll likely find yourself humming it after one listen.

Oscar stood up, his knees popping. He brushed the water from his coat. The city was trying to sleep, but the music was always there, hidden in the ambient noise of the city—the screech of brakes, the clatter of a garbage can, the hiss of steam.

While New Orleans had Bourbon Street, Seattle had Jackson Street. And on Jackson Street, Oscar Holden was the king of the "house rent" parties and the after-hours clubs. He wasn't just a pianist; he was a storyteller. His style was a hybrid of barrelhouse bass thumps and elegant, cascading treble runs—a sound that would eventually crystalize into what we now call