-- much of it borrowed from words used to describe sexual activity.

And a lot of the language -- whether people realise it or not -- trickled out of smoky clubs and into the mainstream talk of the streets.

Several words and phrase like `hip' and `cat' have helped give jazz its `cool', `funky' mystique.

Here are a few old jazz favourites to help you `dig' the jazz `scene' -- and pass yourself off as a true connoisseur -- or even a cool cat: Bad: Good; Blow: A jazzman's term for playing any instrument; The bomb: Very cool; Bread: A jazzman's word for money; Break it down: Get hot. Go to town; Burnin': Used to describe a particularly emotional or technically excellent solo; Cats: People who play jazz music; Dad or Daddy-o: A way of addressing another guy; Dig: To know or understand it completely; Fly: Smooth or slick; Gig: A paying job; Jam session: A group of jazz players improvising; Lame: Something that doesn't quite cut it; Scat: Improvised lyrics. Nonsense syllables; Scene: A place or atmosphere; Skins player: The drummer; and Take five: To take a five minute break.

For more jazz slang check out the Jazz Speak website at http://www.visionx.com/jazz/sp eak.htm