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Hour One of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise sets the mood for a night of easy motion and impeccable class. Though this “No Special Theme” edition promises no single concept, it opens with a sequence that flows as smoothly as a big band chart from the height of the swing era. In this first hour, Steve Cushing draws from a deep well of jazz-infused blues and elegant vocal artistry—music that moves between sophistication and soul, where rhythm sections swing and singers shine.

The journey begins with The Charioteers and their polished “Gaucho Serenade,” a gentle reminder of the vocal harmony groups that bridged gospel and popular song. Their rich blend of tones and disciplined phrasing capture the transitional moment between the harmony quartets of the 1930s and the R&B vocal groups that would emerge in the next decade.

Then the horn-heavy brilliance of Erskine Hawkins takes center stage with a run of sides that exemplify the excitement of the big band era. “Skippin’ & A’Hoppin’,” “So Long–Goodbye,” “Please Don’t Put Me Down,” and “Downbeat” all pulse with that unmistakable swing-era vitality—tight arrangements, hot trumpet leads, and a rhythm section that seems to bounce right off the floor. Hawkins’ orchestra brought the nightclub and the dance hall together, bridging swing’s sophistication with the earthy pulse of rhythm and blues.

The tone shifts but the energy remains as Lionel Hampton steps in with his trademark combination of showmanship and precision. “Don’t Flee the Scene, Salty,” “For You My Love,” “Helpless,” and “What’s Happening Baby” showcase Hampton’s versatility—alternating between joyous energy and tender balladry. Hampton’s vibraphone shimmered like nothing else in jazz, and his vocal tracks always carried that same joyful immediacy. Together, they remind listeners that Hampton wasn’t just a virtuoso; he was a conduit of rhythm and optimism.

Ivie Anderson, the longtime vocalist for Duke Ellington’s orchestra, brings sophistication and heart in equal measure. “Your Love Has Faded,” “Five O’Clock Whistle,” “Isn’t Love the Strangest Thing,” and “Swingtime in Honolulu” are small masterpieces of phrasing and poise. Anderson’s effortless timing and emotional clarity made her one of the defining female voices of prewar jazz—a singer who could turn even a novelty tune into something radiant. Her blend of polish and intimacy connects perfectly with the hour’s smooth flow.

Next, Al Hibbler takes over, continuing that Ellingtonian thread. His baritone on “By the River St. Marie,” “Poor Butterfly,” and “Stardust” brings a lush romanticism to the set. Hibbler’s voice, with its deep vibrato and emotional richness, transcends category—equally at home in jazz, pop, and blues. Each track feels like midnight distilled into song.

To close, Cushing brings in Duke Ellington himself with “Johnny Come Lately,” completing the circle. Ellington’s orchestra, with its sophistication and swing, stands as the backbone of so much that came before and after. The piece, written by Billy Strayhorn, encapsulates the balance of melody and movement that defines the entire hour—a perfect bridge between the structure of jazz and the soul of the blues.

Hour One isn’t about fireworks; it’s about finesse. This is the blues seen through a lens of polish and precision—where emotion wears a tuxedo but still cuts deep. It’s the kind of start that invites the listener to settle in, let the rhythm wash over, and remember that elegance has always been a part of the blues’ story.

Hour 1 Playlist

GAUCHO SERENADE – CHARIOTEERS

SKIPPIN’ & A’HOPPIN’ – ERSKINE HAWKINS

SO LONG – GOOD-BYE – ERSKINE HAWKINS

PLEASE DON’T PUT ME DOWN – ERSKINE HAWKINS

DOWNBEAT – ERSKINE HAWKINS

DON’T FLEE THE SCENE SALTY – LIONEL HAMPTON

FOR YOU MY LOVE – LIONEL HAMPTON

HELPLESS – LIONEL HAMPTON

WHAT’S HAPPENING BABY – LIONEL HAMPTON

YOUR LOVE HAS FADED – IVIE ANDERSON

FIVE O’CLOCK WHISTLE – IVIE ANDERSON

ISN’T LOVE THE STRANGEST THING – IVIE ANDERSON

SWINGTIME IN HONOLULU – IVIE ANDERSON

BY THE RIVER ST MARIE – AL HIBBLER

POOR BUTTERFLY – AL HIBBLER

STARDUST – AL HIBBLER

JOHNNY COME LATELY – DUKE ELLINGTON