This week’s Blues Before Sunrise takes listeners on a remarkable journey through blues, jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, and vocal harmony, highlighted by a fascinating visit with one of the most important figures in early American music. During Hour Three, the spotlight turns to the legendary Jelly Roll Morton and his historic 1938 Library of Congress recordings with folklorist Alan Lomax. These sessions remain among the most valuable oral histories in jazz, capturing Morton as both performer and storyteller while he reflects on the origins of New Orleans jazz, his own compositions, and his role in shaping the music.

Never accused of excessive humility, Morton freely discussed his influence on the development of jazz, often presenting himself as one of its principal architects. Whether listeners agree with all of his claims or not, the recordings offer a fascinating first-person account from a musician who stood at the center of jazz during its formative years. The combination of conversation, piano demonstrations, and musical history makes these recordings among the most engaging documents ever preserved by the Library of Congress.

The program begins in Hour One with a lively assortment of jump blues, swing, and vocal-group favorites. Louis Jordan dominates the set with several classic performances that showcase why he became one of the most successful entertainers of the 1940s. Buddy and Ella Johnson contribute a series of polished rhythm-and-blues recordings, while Hot Lips Page adds his trademark blend of blues and jazz. The hour also includes appearances by the Ink Spots, Albert Ammons, Bert Williams, and Wild Bill Davis, creating an entertaining opening that bridges jazz, blues, and popular music.

Hour Two continues with a strong collection of rhythm and blues performers led by Ray Charles, Percy Mayfield, Annie Laurie, and Billy Wright. The hour also explores earlier blues traditions through artists such as Georgia Tom Dorsey, Kansas City Kitty, Ora Alexander, Gladys Bentley, and Maggie Jones. The final portion moves into gospel territory, featuring the Golden Gate Quartet, Elder Lightfoot Solomon Michaux, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, the Gay Sisters, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Following the Jelly Roll Morton feature in Hour Three, Hour Four shifts into classic Chicago blues and postwar rhythm and blues. Big Walter Horton, Billy Boy Arnold, Eddie Taylor, Otis Spann, Howling Wolf, Willie Nix, Mary Lane, Syl Johnson, Johnny Ace, and Lloyd Glenn are among the many artists represented. The hour captures the sound of Chicago’s thriving blues scene during the 1950s and early 1960s, featuring both celebrated masters and lesser-known performers who helped shape the city’s musical legacy.

Hour Five provides a smooth and sophisticated conclusion. Jazz performances from Henry Mancini, Wes Montgomery, Billy Eckstine, Lorez Alexandria, and Groove Holmes establish a relaxed late-night atmosphere before the blues return through George Harmonica Smith, Harmonica King, Gus Jenkins, Slim Green, Ace Holder, Mercy Dee Walton, and others. The program closes, as always, with Fleetwood Mac’s beautiful instrumental “Albatross.”

From Jelly Roll Morton’s firsthand recollections of jazz history to Chicago blues, gospel quartets, rhythm-and-blues pioneers, and late-night jazz elegance, this week’s Blues Before Sunrise offers another unforgettable tour through the rich musical heritage that continues to inspire listeners around the world.