The fifth and final hour of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise captures the richness of blues at its borders — where the genre intersects with jazz sophistication, vocal group harmony, swamp blues grit, and modern electric fire. It’s an hour that feels like both a reflection on the past and a forward-looking statement about how wide the reach of the blues can be.
The set begins with the warm blend of voices from The Ravens, whose version of “Marie” is a reminder of how vocal groups brought jazz-influenced harmony into the R&B market. The Ravens bridged the era between big-band crooners and doo-wop stylings, influencing countless ensembles that followed. From there, the program moves into the realm of jazz excellence: Cannonball Adderley’s “I’ll Never Stop Lovin’ You” swings with alto sax elegance, while Billy Eckstine delivers baritone romance on “Never Been in Love Before.” Together with Dinah Washington’s emotional “Feel Like I Wanna Cry” and the organ-driven fire of Brother Jack McDuff, these cuts showcase how the blues underpinned even the most sophisticated jazz and popular stylings of the mid-century.
One of the standout voices of this hour is Una Mae Carlisle. Often overlooked today, Carlisle was a singer-pianist who blended jazz and pop charm with undeniable grace. Her performances of “I Would Do Anything for You” and “Now I Lay Me Down to Dream” show her delicate phrasing and elegant swing. Even more special is her duet with the legendary Fats Waller on “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love,” a pairing that highlights her place in the lineage of jazz vocalists who carried blues feeling into more refined musical settings.
From this elegance, the hour pivots sharply to swampy grit with Slim Harpo. Known for his laconic vocal style and harmonica-driven grooves, Harpo’s “King Bee,” “Late Last Night,” and “Yeah Yeah Baby” are earthy, hypnotic, and irresistibly raw. Harpo embodied Louisiana blues — music that was both minimalist and deeply grooving, perfectly at home in juke joints yet destined to inspire British blues-rock bands decades later.
Keeping the harmonica theme alive, the set introduces George “Harmonica” Smith and Lee Jackson. Smith, a powerful player who mentored younger harpists, delivers the moody “Blues Stay Away,” while Lee Jackson keeps things sly with “Fishing in My Pond” and “I’ll Just Keep Walkin’.” Both artists represent the hard Chicago sound, proving the enduring appeal of the blues harp as both a lead and rhythm instrument.
Electric guitar makes its presence felt with Buddy Guy, whose “Slop Around” and “When My Left Eye Jumps” bristle with fire. Guy’s flamboyant attack and passionate vocals pushed Chicago blues into the modern era, inspiring generations of guitarists from Jimi Hendrix to Stevie Ray Vaughan. The rare track from Madonna Martin, “Rattlesnakin’ Papa,” adds a welcome curveball, spotlighting a less familiar yet gutsy blueswoman who contributed to the electric blues tradition.
The set closes with Fleetwood Mac’s “Albatross,” a hauntingly beautiful instrumental that provides a serene coda. Though Fleetwood Mac would later achieve superstardom in the rock world, “Albatross” is steeped in the blues roots that launched their career. Its gentle, atmospheric guitar work feels like a perfect send-off after an hour that has moved from harmony to grit, from swing sophistication to swamp grooves.
Hour five reminds listeners that the blues is not confined to a single form or style. It is the thread that ties together vocal harmony, jazz sophistication, swamp grooves, harmonica grit, and electric fire. By ending on a piece as contemplative as “Albatross,” the show underscores the versatility and emotional range of the blues. It’s a closing set that feels both expansive and intimate — a fitting finale to a night of music without boundaries.
Hour 5 Playlist
- Marie – The Ravens
- I’ll Never Stop Lovin’ You – Cannonball Adderley
- Never Been in Love Before – Billy Eckstine
- Feel Like I Wanna Cry – Dinah Washington
- Another Real Good Un’ – Brother Jack McDuff
- I Would Do Anything for You – Una Mae Carlisle
- Now I Lay Me Down to Dream – Una Mae Carlisle
- I Can’t Give You Anything but Love – Una Mae Carlisle & Fats Waller
- King Bee – Slim Harpo
- Late Last Night – Slim Harpo
- Yeah Yeah Baby – Slim Harpo
- Blues Stay Away – George “Harmonica” Smith
- Fishing in My Pond – Lee Jackson
- I’ll Just Keep Walkin’ – Lee Jackson
- Slop Around – Buddy Guy
- When My Left Eye Jumps – Buddy Guy
- Rattlesnakin’ Papa – Madonna Martin
- Albatross – Fleetwood Mac