Hour #5 brings another eclectic collection of blues, jazz, R&B, and soul to the close of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise. Although the central feature of the program has been Will Ezell’s work as an accompanist on the Paramount label, the final hour takes a broader view, connecting classic vocal jazz, soul-jazz, Chicago blues, and the traditional BBS closing selections.

The Ravens open the hour with “Someday,” bringing in the sophisticated vocal-group harmonies that became such an important part of postwar rhythm and blues. Their sound bridges the gap between earlier jazz-influenced harmony groups and the vocal groups that would dominate R&B and popular music in the years ahead.

Wes Montgomery follows with “Portrait of Jenny.” Montgomery’s remarkable guitar playing provides a completely different musical texture. His work combined jazz sophistication with a powerful sense of melody and groove, making him one of the most influential guitarists of his generation.

Joe Williams contributes “My Last Affair,” returning the hour to the blues-rooted vocal tradition. Williams possessed one of the great voices in jazz and blues, capable of delivering a lyric with both authority and restraint.

Betty Carter follows with “Don’t Weep for the Lady,” while Shirley Scott contributes “Cute.” Scott’s organ playing adds a soulful dimension to the hour and highlights the important connection between jazz and the blues-based sounds of the Hammond organ.

The program then moves directly into electric blues with two recordings by Jimmy Reed: “Ain’t That Lovin’ You” and “I Wanna Be Loved.” Reed’s relaxed vocal delivery, distinctive harmonica, and hypnotic rhythm helped define the sound of Chicago blues during the 1950s and 1960s. His influence reached far beyond the blues world and into rock and roll.

Willie Mabon follows with “Why Did It Happen to Me,” keeping the Chicago R&B flavor alive before Jimmy Rogers takes over with “She Left Me with a Broken Heart.” Rogers was another important figure in the Chicago blues scene, bringing his distinctive guitar and vocal style to a musical tradition that was still developing rapidly during the postwar era.

The hour then moves into the darker territory of Howlin’ Wolf with “Backdoor Man” and “I’m Leaving You.” Wolf’s enormous voice and commanding presence made him one of the defining performers of Chicago blues. His recordings could sound threatening, humorous, sensual, and deeply emotional, sometimes within the same performance.

Magic Sam’s “Magic Rocker” continues the Chicago connection. Sam’s elegant guitar playing and energetic approach helped establish the West Side Chicago blues sound, and his recordings remain some of the most influential electric blues performances of the period.

Ricky Allen contributes “Cut You A-Loose,” another strong example of the postwar Chicago blues tradition. The performance leads naturally into one of the familiar BBS landmarks, Leroy Carr’s “Blues Before Sunrise.”

Carr’s recording is especially appropriate for the program. His piano-based blues helped establish a style that would influence generations of blues musicians, and the title itself has become inseparable from the identity of the radio program.

Finally, Fleetwood Mac’s “Albatross” provides the closing instrumental. Its spacious, atmospheric sound offers a striking contrast to the raw blues performances that preceded it, bringing the five-hour broadcast to a quiet and reflective conclusion.

Hour #5 demonstrates the breadth of the musical world explored by Blues Before Sunrise. Vocal harmony, jazz guitar, soul-jazz organ, Chicago blues, and atmospheric instrumental music all have a place here. It is another reminder that the blues is not a narrow musical category but a foundation that reaches into countless styles.

And as always, the music ultimately speaks for itself.

Playlist

SOMEDAY — RAVENS
PORTRAIT OF JENNY — WES MONTGOMERY
MY LAST AFFAIR — JOE WILLIAMS
DON’T WEEP FOR THE LADY — BETTY CARTER
CUTE — SHIRLEY SCOTT
AIN’T THAT LOVIN’ YOU — JIMMY REED
I WANNA BE LOVED — JIMMY REED
WHY DID IT HAPPEN TO ME — WILLIE MABON
SHE LEFT ME WITH A BROKEN HEART — JIMMY ROGERS
BACKDOOR MAN — HOWLIN’ WOLF
I’M LEAVING YOU — HOWLIN’ WOLF
MAGIC ROCKER — MAGIC SAM
CUT YOU A-LOOSE — RICKEY ALLEN
BLUES BEFORE SUNRISE — LEROY CARR
ALBATROSS — FLEETWOOD MAC