In the narrative of Ford's novel, the song serves as a powerful symbol of connection during World War II:
Henry and Keiko first hear Holden perform the song at a jazz club on Jackson Street. alley cat strut oscar holden
He picked up his trumpet case. He had a rehearsal in the morning, a bunch of young kids who could play fast but didn't know how to tell a story yet. They needed to learn the strut. In the narrative of Ford's novel, the song
: Holden was a fixture at historic joints like the Black and Tan Club and the Black Elks Club. In the narrative of Ford's novel
Some arrangements can feel a bit too repetitive if played straight. A good performer will need to add their own variations (trills, stops, tempo rubato) to keep it fresh.