If you were going to put a soundtrack to a trip around Saguaro Lake, you could not go wrong by selecting Bossa nova, sounds of Brazil. Jazz in the Hills did just that, converting its regular program to a Jazz on the Lake featuring the Cleo Corcoran Trio who entertained guests on the Desert Belle.

The afternoon temperatures Sunday (June 2) were reaching beyond 110 in some parts of the Valley and seemed a little daunting for a cruise around the lake. But by the time we boarded the vessel, temps had dropped, a breeze was blowing, the sun was getting low and the trip seemed to be more than a good idea.

Saguaro Lake is the smallest of the Salt River lakes, but it is one of my favorites. The cliffs, the sky, the saguaros, the cool water are reasons to believe in the beauty of the desert. Even on a hot day, water has that magic way of making you feel cooler, and add some Latin jazz, and cool is the only thing on your mind.

The Cleo Trio really made that trip fun. She is so smooth, and her players so chill, you could float around the lake for days and feel happy. The music is so unobtrusive yet so engaging you are carried away by the sweetness of it all.

This was the first Jazz in the Hills concert I had been to, I am sorry to say. I have written stories about the organization for years, but their weekly concerts seem to fall at times I can't get back to Fountain Hills . My friend Rich Tews, who is executive director of Jazz in the Hills, raves about the music and all there is to hear. I needed only to hear one show to know I have missed a lot.

Jazz can be intimidating. Not everyone loves it, but Jazz in the Hills is set up to give the audience a taste of a lot of different types of jazz. I'm an old rock 'n' roll girl, but I also love jazz. And when you think about it, jazz is the root of rock and blues and soul and country and nearly every genre there is. It is part of our history -- our American heritage. It is the only music developed in the United States from the git-go. It's a little patriotic that way. It's American made music.

I hope you'll try these Jazz in the Hills shows. The summer schedule is abbreviated. The next program is July 27 featuring the Latin Jazz All-Stars with Joe Corral. The show will be at Alchemy at CopperWynd Resort. Tickets and information are available at www.jazzinthehills.org. I'm sure going to try to be there. There is something about the music that just makes the summer seem a lot cooler.