Sherman Holmes has been one step ahead of the blues for over six decades. Born in New Jersey in 1939 and raised in Virginia, he launched his career in 1959 as a founding member of The Holmes Brothers, going on to earn two Blues Music Awards along the way. Now, with his new album One Step Ahead of the Blues, released this October on Nola Blue Records, Holmes proves he hasn’t lost a step, joined by an impressive cast including The Blind Boys of Alabama, Joan Osborne, and Catherine Russell. From the opening title track, it’s clear this is the real thing — his voice and guitar work carry an instant authenticity that any true blues lover will recognize immediately.
The album’s title track sets the tone immediately, with Holmes’s voice and guitar work delivering instant authenticity — this is exactly what a true blues lover wants to hear. That same storytelling gift shines on “Voices in the Hall,” one of his own compositions, where his distinct delivery plays out like a blues singing narrative, the kind that keeps your attention the entire time. “The Blues Done Got My Soul” shifts gears with a comforting R&B influence, while “Oh, America, Still Standing” stands out as a highlight in its own right, its powerful chorus serving as a gentle reminder of the power of music in shaping our national consciousness. “One More Go Around” picks the energy back up, spirited and inspiring from start to finish.
Among all these highlights, “Fair to Midland” emerges as a personal favorite — a spare, acoustic piece where every note feels essential, speaking clearly straight to the soul. The album closes with “Change My Heart,” an incredibly powerful song elevated further by the addition of The Blind Boys of Alabama, bringing the record to a moving finish.
One Step Ahead of the Blues is a triumphant statement from an artist who, decades into his career, still has something urgent to say. Sherman Holmes moves seamlessly between blues, gospel, and R&B, and with a little help from friends like The Blind Boys of Alabama, Joan Osborne, and Catherine Russell, he’s crafted a record that feels both deeply personal and quietly essential. This is the sound of a true blues legend still moving, still inspiring, and still very much one step ahead.
