But nothing in the illustrious history of American jazz can compare with the stylistic explosion which has been taking place in the gobal jazz community over the last decade or so, broadening definitions and, some would say, making the word 'jazz' quite redundant.

Indeed, how odd that we still use this mysterious little word . . . which almost certainly began life as a sexual reference in 19th-century New Orleans . . . to describe such a complex art form. Creative improvised music (you can see why we hang onto the user-friendly Jword) is now almost without frontiers, taking on distinctly local flavours wherever it has taken root. Vietnamese guitarist Nguyen Le can fuse south Asian folk music with Jimi Hendrix and call himself a jazz artist. New York's downtown avant-gardists have been increasingly grazing in eastern European pastures, and albums of Klezmer and Bulgarian wedding music are just as likely to appear in the jazz racks of the city's music stores.

Here in Ireland, bassist Ronan Guilfoyle can bring Irish traditional musicians and put them together with Indian percussionists, classical flautists and jazz guitarists and yet still retain the core jazz ethos of improvisation.

Through his role as director of jazz studies at Newpark Music Centre, Guilfoyle's influence can be plainly seen (and heard) in the new generation of Irish jazz musicians, currently embracing this brave new world. An excellent example can be inspected this Thursday in the Project Arts Centre in Dublin when guitarist Daniel Jacobson debuts his ZoiD ensemble. Jacobson is recently returned from Red Bull Music Academy in Melbourne, where he was exploring the interface between acoustic and electric music, particularly the art of the DJ. The guitarist is also a member of the oldsquarelines group, whose debut album has impressed many.

The young Irish jazz scene being what it is . . . one of the most incestuous communities since the Borgias . . . the ZoiD ensemble also features many of Dublin's other leading young players, including saxophonists Nick Roth and Cathal Roche, trumpeter Bill Blackmore, trombonist Colm O'Hara, violinist Simone Mendonca, cellist Kate Ellis, pianist Justin Carroll, bassist Cormac O'Brien and percussionist Matthew Jacobson.

According to the publicity, ZoiD purvey "techno grooves topped with contemporary harmonies, breakbeats with intricate ensemble passages and improvisation within structured boundaries".

This somewhat torturous description perhaps explains the continued popularity of the J-word.

Meanwhile, for those ready for some Christmas cheer, singer Susannah de Wrixon's cabaret opens for two nights in the Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire tonight. A former member of the Nualas, star of I Keano, and a seasoned performer on the cabaret circuit, de Wrixon artfully combines the talents of actor, singer and comedian.

Her Peggy Lee tribute has wowed audiences on both sides of the Atlantic and de Wrixon is currently running the cabaret in Bewleys upstairs theatre on Grafton Street.

Musically directed by pianist Cian Boylan, the Christmas show will plunder the standard songbook for seasonal cheer like 'Santa Baby' and 'Let It Snow'. But de Wrixon's tastes also run to Joni Mitchell and Tom Waits, so expect some darkness amongst all the snow references. And there will also be some seasonal readings from John B Keane, Dylan Thomas and some bloke called William Shakespeare.