Are you ready for the sultry sound of the blues Ready to go back to a time of pure romance in an era that produced a big baby boom

Matt Netto, Tracy High choral director and music teacher, leads his students once again in the annual production of “Smokey Blues,” complete with wartime romantic tunes from the 1940s.

It’s like going to a smoky cabaret, complete with desserts, drinks, a chanteuse or two and some romantic male leads. “Smoky Blues” normally sells out, but there still may be a few tickets left. The first performance was Friday night, with the second being tonight.

There are some showstoppers, like “Ain’t Misbehavin” with Monique Balzouman and “Big Spender,” from Bekie Williams. Then you’ll have the February cold spell broken with “Summertime” by Jon Ryslinge. Some really bluesy pieces include “Cry Me a River” with Katie Santos, and Ceci Robles crooning “More Than You Know.” And it wouldn’t be complete without Havi Tran singing “Someone to Watch Over Me.”

It’s not smoky from cigars or cigarettes as in those old jazz club days, but the sound is smokin’ hot. It’s something you’ll want to hear from year to year.

Behind the Scenes is an occasional column by Deborah Littleton, founder and owner of a public relations/marketing, graphics and Web design company called Debographix. She can be reached at 629-2506 or deborah@debographix.com.