It was founded in 1984 as a mail-order company promoting jazz and improvisation through catalogues and short courses and workshops for musicians.
These included amateur and professional musicians from the UK and around the world, who played typical jazz instruments such as trumpet, saxophone, trombone, piano, guitar, double bass and drums.
Students received instrumental tuition and instruction in harmony and ear training and played for several hours each day in jazz bands ('combos') under tutor guidance.
Its customer base includes musicians from beginner to experienced professional, schools and colleges and band directors.
It features news coverage, a national gig guide, gossip column, a jazz-on-film page, opinion column, in-depth features and a review section covering new CD releases, reissues, DVDs, books and live reviews.