After a night that balanced scholarship, swing, R&B grit, and electric blues firepower, Hour Five of the February 15, 2026 Blues Before Sunrise broadcast settles into something smoother, more reflective. This final stretch feels intentional — not a cooldown, but a soft landing. The edges round off, the tempos breathe, and the emotion turns inward.

The Charioteers open with “For Sentimental Reasons,” immediately setting a tone of warmth and polish. Their harmonies glide rather than press, establishing that late-night intimacy that BBS handles so well. From there, Wes Montgomery’s “Whisper Not” enters like a slow exhale. Montgomery’s guitar phrasing is fluid and conversational, each note placed with unhurried confidence. It’s jazz, yes — but jazz with deep blues DNA.

Al Hibbler’s “My Little Brown Book” continues the sophisticated mood. His baritone carries equal parts strength and vulnerability, transforming a love song into something deeply personal. Ella Fitzgerald’s “Sweet & Slow” follows, and her phrasing feels effortless — never showy, always precise. The pairing of Hibbler and Fitzgerald reinforces how intertwined jazz and blues remain, even when the delivery is polished.

Brother Jack McDuff shifts the energy with “The Honeydripper.” The organ groove adds a subtle pulse, bringing back a hint of rhythm without disrupting the hour’s calm. It’s the kind of track that reminds you the night isn’t over — it’s just deepening.

Brook Benton then delivers a pair of emotionally resonant ballads: “Thank You Pretty Baby” and “It’s Just a Matter of Time.” Benton had a gift for combining smooth delivery with raw sentiment, and these performances underscore that balance. His voice sounds both confident and quietly wounded — classic late-night soul.

The mood pivots toward earthier terrain with Robert Nighthawk’s “Seventy Four.” The slide guitar cuts through gently but unmistakably, reconnecting the hour to Delta roots. Forrest City Joe’s “Shady Lane Woman” keeps that Mississippi feel alive, stripped down and direct. There’s something grounding about this shift — as if the show is reminding listeners where all this elegance ultimately began.

James “Beale Street” Clark contributes two tracks — “You Can’t Make the Grade” and “Who But You” — blending humor and streetwise storytelling. His delivery feels conversational, slightly rough around the edges in a way that suits the hour perfectly. Taildragger’s “Do the Do” injects Chicago grit without overpowering the reflective atmosphere.

Jimmy Yancy’s “Yancy’s Bugle Call” returns to piano blues tradition, the rolling left hand anchoring everything firmly. Then comes one of the hour’s most touching moments: “Someone to Love” by Charles Brown and Bonnie Raitt. The generational blend works beautifully — Brown’s understated warmth paired with Raitt’s expressive sensitivity creates a seamless bridge between eras.

Andrew Dunham’s “I Found Out” keeps things intimate and grounded, reinforcing the blues’ enduring relevance. And finally, as the night gives way to early light, Fleetwood Mac’s “Albatross” closes the program. Wordless and atmospheric, it drifts rather than concludes — a gentle instrumental farewell that feels like watching the horizon brighten.

Hour Five doesn’t compete for attention. It lingers. It respects silence as much as sound. After scholarship, swagger, and electric intensity earlier in the broadcast, this final hour reminds us that blues — in all its forms — ultimately returns to feeling.

And that’s how you end a Sunday morning right.

Hour Five Playlist

For Sentimental Reasons – Charioteers

Whisper Not – Wes Montgomery

My Little Brown Book – Al Hibbler

Sweet & Slow – Ella Fitzgerald

The Honeydripper – Brother Jack McDuff

Thank You Pretty Baby – Brook Benton

It’s Just a Matter of Time – Brook Benton

Seventy Four – Robert Nighthawk

Shady Lane Woman – Forrest City Joe

You Can’t Make the Grade – James Beale Street Clark

Who But You – James Beale Street Clark

Do the Do – Taildragger

Yancy’s Bugle Call – Jimmy Yancy

Someone to Love – Charles Brown & Bonnie Raitt

I Found Out – Andrew Dunham

Albatross – Fleetwood Mac