The first hour of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise establishes a brisk, wide-ranging opening built around jump blues, R&B, piano, […]
Ray Charles, Nappy Brown, and the Spirit of the Set
Hour 2 brings R&B, blues, piano blues, and spiritual recordings into a single, well-paced sequence. Nappy Brown’s “Down in the […]
Pre-War Voices in Close Conversation
Hour 3 turns toward an earlier body of blues recordings, bringing together pianists, guitarists, singers, duos, and string-band performers in […]
Lefty Bates Takes the Floor
The fourth hour begins the week’s Spotlight on Lefty Bates, a guitarist whose work as a session player made him […]
From Vocal Groups to “Albatross”
The fifth hour keeps the Lefty Bates spotlight in motion by placing its material within a wide field of voices, […]
Voices, Standards, and Blues at Daybreak
The opening hour of Blues Before Sunrise sets a remarkably broad musical foundation for the week’s program. Its playlist moves […]
Rhythm, Blues, and a Gospel Turn
Hour 2 of Blues Before Sunrise is structured as a wide-ranging passage through rhythm and blues, blues, vocal material, and […]
Deep Blues, Changing Voices
Hour 3 of Blues Before Sunrise assembles one of the week’s most concentrated blues sequences, moving through a large roster […]
Chicago Blues Fest: Sets, Voices, and a Final Performance
Hour 4 takes Blues Before Sunrise to the Chicago Blues Fest, making the program’s festival setting the defining element of […]
From Delta Rhythm to “Albatross”
The final hour of Blues Before Sunrise creates a wide-ranging conclusion from a playlist that moves with assurance among vocal […]