Product details
- Label Easy Eye Sound
- Artist Jimmy "Duck" Holmes
- Format 1LP
- Country United States
- Released Date 2019
- Genre Blues
- Sealed Yes
Do you have questions about this product?
Cypress Grove by Jimmy "Duck" Holmes.
Deep in the hill country of Bentonia, Mississippi, there lives a sound that almost slipped away, and Jimmy "Duck" Holmes has spent his life making sure it never does. "Cypress Grove," released in 2019 on Dan Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound label, is a document of that devotion. As the last of the Bentonia Blues musicians, Holmes carries a tradition passed down through names like Henry "Son" Stuckey, Jack Owens, and Skippy James, and this record lets that lineage speak in his own weathered, unhurried voice.
The album opens with "Hard Times" and moves into the haunting title track, "Cypress Grove," before settling into a run that includes "Catfish Blues," "Goin' Away Baby," and "Rock Me." Side B carries just as much weight, from the slow burn of "Little Red Rooster" and "Devil Got My Woman" to the rolling momentum of "All Night Long," "Gonna Get Old Someday," "Train Train," and the closing "Two Women." Each song feels like it was pulled straight from the floorboards of a juke joint rather than assembled in a studio.
Produced by Dan Auerbach and recorded and engineered by Allen Parker, the sessions capture Holmes with a directness that suits the material. Auerbach and Parker handled the mix, with assistant engineering from Alex Skelton and Caleb VanBuskirk. Richard Dodd mastered the record, Daniel Krieger cut the lacquer, and the whole package is dressed in design and layout by Perry Shall with photography by Alysse Gafkjen. Marcus King appears courtesy of Fantasy Records, adding another thread to the sessions.
What sets Holmes apart is not just his playing but the world he keeps alive around it. He owns and operates The Blue Front Cafe, Mississippi's oldest surviving juke joint, runs The Bentonia Blues Festival, the oldest blues festival of its kind, and even started his own label, Blue Front Records. When asked where to learn more, Duck simply said to "look it up on the computer." That plainspoken humility runs through every groove here.
This is Bentonia Blues at its source, played by a man who honors the musicians who came before him while proving the tradition still breathes. For collectors of raw, unvarnished Mississippi blues, "Cypress Grove" is an essential entry in the Easy Eye Sound catalog, cataloged as EES-011 and issued under copyright in 2019.
Holmes has devoted his life to this music, and the record makes that plain from the first note. It is both a personal statement and a tribute, a bridge between generations of players who kept the Bentonia sound going against every odd. Add it to your shelf and hear the last of a line still holding the flame.
Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Hard Times
A2. Cypress Grove
A3. Catfish Blues
A4. Goin' Away Baby
A5. Rock Me
B1. Little Red Rooster
B2. Devil Got My Woman
B3. All Night Long
B4. Gonna Get Old Someday
B5. Train Train
B6. Two Women
Credits:
Perry Shall - Design, Layout
Alex Skelton - Engineer [Assistant]
Caleb VanBuskirk - Engineer [Assistant]
Daniel Krieger - Lacquer Cut By
Richard Dodd - Mastered By
Allen Parker - Mixed By
Dan Auerbach - Mixed By
Alysse Gafkjen - Photography By
Dan Auerbach - Producer
Allen Parker - Recorded By, Engineer
Notes:
Marcus King appears courtesy of Fantasy Records.
Jimmy "Duck" Holmes would like to thank Dan Auerbach, Vencie Vernado, Michael Schulze, Dick Waterman, Mike Munson, Robert Connely Farr, Drew Bennett, Tom Osborn, and Ted Drozdowski.
As the last of the Bentonia Blues musicians, Duck would also like to pay tribute to and honor Henry "Son" Stuckey, Jack Owens, Cornelius Bright, Skippy James, Tommy Lee West, Bud Spires, Adam Slater, Jacob Stuckey, Dodd Stuckey, and Bird Slater.
Duck has devoted his life to the Bentonia Blues.
He owns and operates Mississippi's oldest surviving juke joint - The Blue Front Cafe, runs the oldest blues festival - The Bentonia Blues Festival, and recently started his own blues record label - Blue Front Records.
For more information, Duck said to "look it up on the computer."
© & ℗ 2019 Easy Eye Sound. All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.
EES-011
Artist: Jimmy "Duck" Holmes
Format: 1LP
Genre: Blues
Label: Easy Eye Sound
Catalog Number: EES-011
Release Year: 2019
Country: United States
Condition: Sealed (New)
Frequently Asked Guestions
The condition of our vintage records varies, and we do our best to clearly state the condition of each record in its description. We rate them as 'Mint', 'Near Mint', 'Very Good', 'Good', or 'Fair', following the Goldmine Standard.
We understand the importance of ensuring our products reach you in the same condition they left us. Each record is packed using professional record mailers with additional padding. We also remove the record from its sleeve to prevent seam splits during transit.
Due to the unique nature of our inventory, we're unable to reserve items. All our records are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Yes, we do buy vinyl records. If you're looking to sell, please send us a detailed list of what you have, including the artist, title, condition, and any other relevant information to hello@mileswaxey.com. We'll get back to you with a quote if we're interested.
Yes, we offer a return or exchange within 14 days of purchase if you're not completely satisfied with your record. The item must be in the same condition that you received it. Please note, return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer.
Currently, our entire inventory is online. We do this to keep our prices competitive and to be able to reach vinyl lovers around the world. However, we're always looking for opportunities to connect with our customers in person, so follow us on social media for updates on pop-up events or potential future physical locations.