It's a hot August afternoon in a midwestern city. A commercial traveler has just finished his business and stops by the corner tavern for a cold beer. As his eyes become accustomed to the dim light, he notices a lady sitting alone at the end of the bar. Being a gentleman, he offers to buy her a drink. He is rewarded with the story of her life. And so with SOMETHING COOL this CD begins. This story song was originally recorded by June Christie with Stan Kenton. GET OFF THE GROUND is an uptempo romp by pianist Don Baaska. LUSH LIFE is Billy Strayhorn's barroom classic of unrequited love with a brief but eloquent trumpet solo by Bobby Shew, who just happened to be in the studio that day. HONEYSUCKLE ROSE, Fats Waller's standard was recorded live. If you listen close, you can hear the blender and the glasses clinking in the background. DYIN' BY THE HOUR is a Bessie Smith blues. Great tenor sax solo by Herman Riley. HOW HIGH THE MOON was the national anthem of the be-bop era. ORNITHOLOGY was Charlie Parker's version. Lyric to Ornithology by Don Baaska. LAMENT by trombonist J.J. Johnson. Miles recorded this on "Miles Ahead". Lyrics added by Baaska. LUCKY SO AND SO Exuberant bluesy song by the Duke. Recorded live. YOU'RE NEARER Beautiful love song by Rodgers & Hart. They don't write 'em like this anymore. WHISPERING/GROOVING HIGH A 30's love song that became a be-bop standard when played by Dizzy. Lyrics to Groovin High by Baaska. I WAS BORN IN LOVE WITH YOU Rarely heard theme from Wuthering Heights by Michel Legrand with lyrics by the Bergmans. WHEN I FALL IN LOVE Recorded live at Palmas del Mar. THE MEANING OF THE BLUES From a film noir. Miles recorded this with Gil Evans. Valli Scavelli grew up in Brooklyn listening to her uncle Giro's records from the Big Band and Cool Jazz Era. She became a professional dancer, but loved to sing and hung out in the Village, sitting in wherever she could. In L.A. she teamed up with pianist/arranger Don Baaska. They worked together every night for three years at the notorious piano bar, "Papa Choux". Adding bass & drums they cruised on the Island Princess (Love Boat), made several LPs, went on tour to Japan and worked lounges and jazz venues in southern California before settling into a hotel lounge in Palm Springs. In 1980, Baaska got a call from an old drummer friend in Puerto Rico offering them a gig in a jazz room--"Cats". Well, "Cats" lost its nine lives in a few months, but Baaska & Scavelli stayed in Puerto Rico and keep busy performing in lounges and for conventions in the winter season. In the summer, they go fishing and cruise the Caribbean in their Catamarran.