We close out the night with soul, jazz, and raw Chicago fire. The Ravens bring lush harmony to “You Foolish Thing,” a slice of 1940s R&B that hints at doo-wop and soul’s future. Johnny Hodges adds cool jazz elegance with “Lil’ Darlin’,” and Ernestine Anderson’s “Mound Bayou” is rich with Southern pride and sophistication.

Shirley Scott’s “Soul Shoutin’” is a Hammond B3 masterclass—gritty, grooving, and gospel-rooted. Then we take a deep dive into live Chicago blues: Muddy Waters and Otis Spann roar from Mr. Kelly’s with “Nine Below Zero” and “Nineteen Years Old,” vintage live cuts that showcase real-time blues interplay.

The set features more modern tracks too: Sonny Boy Williamson II is biting and brilliant, Eddie Boyd mixes urban melancholy with swing, and Lee Jackson’s “Juanita” is a hidden gem.

And then… Fleetwood Mac’s “Albatross.” An unexpected closer, but its dreamy, instrumental serenity offers a moment of reflection after five hours of deep American roots music. A perfect nightcap.

Playlist:

• YOU FOOLISH THING – RAVENS
• LIL’ DARLIN’ – JOHNNY HODGES
• MOUND BAYOU – ERNESTINE ANDERSON
• SOUL SHOUTIN’ – SHIRLEY SCOTT
• YOU’RE THE ONE – JIMMY ROGERS
• BLOW WIND BLOW – MUDDY & SPANN
• NINETEEN YEARS OLD (MR KELLY’S) – MUDDY WATERS
• NINE BELOW ZERO (MR KELLY’S) – MUDDY WATERS
• FATTENIN’ FROGS FOR SNAKES – SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON II
• MAN-SIZE JON – EDDIE KING / MAE B MAY
• TIME ARE GETTING TOUGHER THAN TOUGH – LITTLE MACK
• BLUE MONDAY BLUES – EDDIE BOYD
• YOU GOT TO REAP – EDDIE BOYD
• JUANITA – LEE JACKSON
• ALBATROSS – FLEETWOOD MAC