HAMPSHIRE musician Andy Dickens is a man who cares passionately about the state of the jazz scene - and, refreshingly, he's got some new things to say on the subject.

The bandleader, trumpeter and vocalist of The Andy Dickens Jazz Band, a six-piece group who play in a variety of popular styles such as New Orleans, swing and even bop and Latin, Andy (pictured above) has garnered glowing reviews from far and wide praising the "first-rate musicianship" and "classy production" of their latest CD Alone Together.

They will be appearing at Basingstoke's Central Studio next week - a venue which, over the years, they have played countless times. It's the fourth time in recent memory for Andy, and he clearly likes it a lot.

"It's an intimate place," he begins. "It's possible to generate a lot of warmth between musicians and the audience. "For us, it's a home venue - very supportive and broadminded. We play right across the repertoire and a lot of people like their music pigeonholed, but at Central Studio they seem prepared to take anything I offer!

"Places like that have a commitment to fly the flag for putting on music. Ten or 15 years ago people were quite happy to go to pubs and clubs, but now those who would go to jazz at night don't want to park in dark places in town centres. It's a cultural issue - how accessibility to things has changed."

Does he sense that people are also, in some senses, scared of jazz music itself?

"What people don't realise is that jazz can be related to every other form of music. People who say they don't like it are missing the fact that rhythm and blues, funk, soul and popular music are all reflected in it.

"That, to some extent, is the appeal of people like Norah Jones. On its own, jazz is such a small section of CD sales, but we use the icons of the scene to sell everything - snippets of classic jazz pop up in adverts all the time.

"The jazz scene is a very strange little scene to be a part of, but you remind people of the qualities of hand-held, live, blown instruments. You're hearing it straight and direct, which makes it terribly personal from an audience's point of view.

"Most people say 'how'd you play this music, how'd you do it?', but the structures are hidden. It's like football - each player knows his position, but every game is different. That's a freedom and the beauty of music."

After Andy plays Central Studio, he'll be off on the QE2 for a while... and then who knows?

"I've played all over Europe and so the music has been like a magic carpet. I look forward to developing and going forward with it.

"It's hard because now we download, computerise and people don't go to live gigs, but music in a live concert for an audience is very different.

"People say 'Why should I spend money listening to you?' but the personal relationship is so totally different. A concert where everyone is engaged is a different listening experience."

The Andy Dickens Band is appearing in Central Studio on Saturday, May 22, from 8pm.

Tickets, priced at £10, with concessions, can be purchased from the box office on 01256 418318.