Hour Five of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise eases into a refined, late-night atmosphere, blending jazz sophistication, blues feeling, and soul-infused vocals. After a full program that moved from swing through Roosevelt Sykes and into electric blues, this closing hour feels like a quiet landing—smooth, reflective, and deeply expressive.

The hour begins with the Basin Street Boys’ “For You,” setting a gentle and melodic tone. It’s a relaxed opener, preparing the listener for a sequence that leans more toward mood and texture than momentum. Wes Montgomery follows with “Canadian Sunset,” his guitar tone warm and fluid, delivering a performance that feels both precise and effortless.

Arthur Prysock’s “When You Walked In the Room” brings a rich baritone vocal into the mix, adding depth and emotional weight. That sense of elegance continues with Betty Carter’s “My Reverie,” where her phrasing and timing showcase a jazz sensibility that is both subtle and powerful.

Grant Green’s “I Wish You Love” extends the instrumental mood, his guitar lines smooth and lyrical, while Little Jimmy Scott takes the spotlight with “Very Truly Yours” and “Street of Dreams.” Scott’s unique voice carries a fragile, almost haunting quality, making these performances some of the most emotionally striking moments of the hour.

The mood shifts slightly as the blues returns to the forefront. Little Walter’s trio—“Lights Out,” “Big Leg Mama,” and “Too Late”—introduces a sharper edge, his harmonica cutting through with authority. These tracks reconnect the hour to the Chicago blues sound, adding grit without breaking the overall flow.

John Brim’s “You Got Me Where You Want Me” keeps that blues momentum going, while Robert Jr. Lockwood’s “I Can’t Stand the Pain” deepens the emotional tone with a more measured, reflective delivery.

The final stretch of the hour belongs to Bobby “Blue” Bland, whose performances—“Blind Man,” “Ain’t Nothing You Can Do,” “Who Will the Next Fool Be,” and “Turn On Your Love Light”—blend blues and soul in a way that feels both polished and deeply felt. Bland’s voice carries a preacher-like intensity, tying together many of the emotional themes heard throughout the entire show—heartbreak, resilience, and longing.

As always, the program closes with “Albatross” by Fleetwood Mac. Its calm, drifting guitar lines provide a sense of resolution, allowing the listener to come down gently from the five-hour journey.

Hour Five doesn’t try to outshine what came before—it complements it. It offers space, reflection, and a final reminder of how versatile and emotionally rich this music can be. From jazz ballads to Chicago blues to soul-stirring vocals, it’s a fitting end to a show anchored by one of the great blues voices, Roosevelt Sykes, and surrounded by the many sounds his era helped inspire.

Playlist – Hour Five

For You – Basin Street Boys

Canadian Sunset – Wes Montgomery

When You Walked In the Room – Arthur Prysock

My Reverie – Betty Carter

I Wish You Love – Grant Green

Very Truly Yours – Little Jimmy Scott

Street of Dreams – Little Jimmy Scott

Lights Out – Little Walter

Big Leg Mama – Little Walter

Too Late – Little Walter

You Got Me Where You Want Me – John Brim

I Can’t Stand the Pain – Robert Jr. Lockwood

Blind Man – Bobby Bland

Ain’t Nothing You Can Do – Bobby Bland

Who Will the Next Fool Be – Bobby Bland

Turn On Your Love Light – Bobby Bland

Albatross – Fleetwood Mac