ask a dozen people what they understand by jazz and you will probably hear a dozen different answers!

it is easy to get it wrong and our sound clips should be helpful in deciding which style of jazz you are looking for - run your mouse over the icons on the right to hear a taste of the various jazz styles

we have good contacts with the best musicians in their fields and most the jazz combinations vary from two to six players with a price variation to match

the jazz idiom is a broad range of stylised music and what is popular for events bears no relation to what is presented in clubs or on concert stages

• jazz funk

three and four piece jazz combos with a conventional rhythm section of keyboards, bass and drums either in combination with sax or guitar as a four piece - the style is melodic but with a greater emphasis on rhythmic patterns - purely instrumental

• dinner jazz

what exactly is dinner jazz? our definition is easy listening standard tunes played in a light jazz style to set a good ambience for receptions and dinners

the sax is usually featured together with either guitar or bass or both - duo or trio

some clients like to add a girl singer and the purists prefer the use of a drummer as well

there is always a degree of improvisation but this should be strictly limited to interpretation of well known tunes

• dixieland

this form of jazz is instrumentally strong and typifies the american spirit of the deep south and brought to prominence by the legendary Louis Armstrong

it's happy music usually from a six or seven piece when a full rhythm section is used or as strolling three or four piece if this is more in keeping and affordable

dixieland music conjures up pictures of the prohibition era and chicago - mobsters, gambling dens and jive or dancers - equally summer garden parties with shades of henley

strolling dixieland jazz bands can work effectively both indoors and outdoors and in combination with other character entertainers

• french cafe jazz

based on the sound of the jazz violin, the style of jazz is effectively played by three and four piece combinations who can stroll and play from various positions during receptions as dinners

the music is vibrant but smooth and played acoustically - no backing tracks - with a "gypsy" feel

the key is the combination of violin and guitar with addition of string bass and possibly clarinet