Hour One sets the tone for the entire show with a polished, urbane sweep through jazz-inflected blues, nightclub energy, and sharp-edged R&B. It’s an hour built around great voices working with great bands—an easy, confident lift-off that shows how much musical breadth you can pack into a single opening chapter.
Scatman Crothers starts things off with “I Got Rhythm,” bringing charm, bounce, and just enough showmanship to flip on the lights. Then comes the long, luxurious stretch of Joe Williams with Count Basie—five sides in a row that form a miniature concert all their own. Williams’ warm baritone and Basie’s signature swing feel blend into something smooth but never sleepy; there’s always motion under the surface, always a little sparkle at the edges.
Dinah Washington takes over the middle portion of the hour in grand fashion. Her sequence of five songs shows the range that made her undeniable—breezy charm, tender lament, polished jazz phrasing, and blues-steeped emotional punch. Few singers could shift tone so effortlessly, and stacking her sides together highlights just how much ground she could cover.
Anisteen Allen follows with a tougher R&B edge—sharp vocals, bold energy, and rhythm that leans right into the next dance step. Earl Bostic closes the hour with “Serenade,” his saxophone tone bright, melodic, and unmistakably his own. It’s a perfect final touch: graceful, confident, and full of color.
Hour One feels like walking into a club where everyone’s in good form—the singers, the band, the crowd, the whole room alive with motion. A clean, classy, deeply satisfying start to the night.
Hour 1 Playlist
- I GOT RHYTHM — Scatman Crothers
- TEACH ME TONIGHT — Joe Williams / Count Basie
- PLEASE SEND ME SOMEONE TO LOVE — Joe Williams / Count Basie
- EVERYDAY I FALL IN LOVE — Joe Williams / Count Basie
- ROLL ‘EM PETE — Joe Williams / Count Basie
- AMAZING LOVE — Joe Williams / Count Basie
- SUN FORGOT TO SHINE THIS MORNING — Dinah Washington
- IT SHOULDN’T HAPPEN TO A DREAM — Dinah Washington
- SURPRISE PARTY — Dinah Washington
- GREEN DOLPHIN STREET — Dinah Washington
- BLUE GARDENIA — Dinah Washington
- BLUES DONE GOT ME & GONE — Anisteen Allen
- HOW BIG CAN YOU GET — Anisteen Allen
- MORE MORE MORE — Anisteen Allen
- DOWN BY THE RIVER — Anisteen Allen
- FUJIYAMA MAMA — Anisteen Allen
- JUST WHISPER — Dudropper
- SERENADE — Earl Bostic