Mississippi’s Jimmy “Duck” Holmes is the keeper of the Bentonia blues tradition flame. He follows such earlier practitioners of the country-blues style as Skip James, Jack Owens and brothers Henry and Dodd Stuckey. The uniqueness of Bentonia blues derives in part from open-tuned guitars and unpredictable performances.

Holmes’ fans include Dan Auerbach, the rock star who’s one-half of the Black Keys. In March, Auerbach produced and recorded Holmes’ ninth album, Cypress Grove, at hi...