and the band, the band is blowing out a rendition of "Blues March'' by legendary drummer Art Blakey that would surely have won the jazz giant's approval.

New York? Toronto? Guess again.

Bermuda. The Chancery Wine Bar.

Four of the Island's premier jazz musicians have come together in what the restaurant hopes to make a regular set.

Tuesday was the first of Chancery's jazz nights. The next will be Sunday, March 5. Then management will decide whether to run it on Tuesdays or Sundays.

There are also plans afoot to have the band play a regular late-night session Fridays at the Bermuda Squash Club.

It was standing room only for the first effort. By midnight a group of well-turned-out women were burning off their dinner calories on the "dance floor'' of the normally staid restaurant.

Jack Kripl, on saxaphone, played emcee. He and the band took the audience through a tour of jazz history from bossa nova to Lyle Lovett. Blakey, Coltrane and Gershwin could also be heard tripping down Chancery Lane.

This sax man needs no introduction. An award-winning classical saxophonist, not to mention onetime Motown session man, Mr. Kripl showed once again how rich Bermuda's musical tapestry really is. It was a treat to hear him perform in such an ideal setting.

Howard Rego, on drums, has an impressive pedigree himself. He calls himself a rock drummer, swears he'd never strayed into jazz before. If true he hid it very well. Sly and the Family Stone, Peter Frampton and Edgar Winter are among the acts he's powered.

Joining him in the rhythm section was one of the Island's top bassmen, the ever-excellent Stan Gilbert.

Rounding out the quartet nicely was longtime stalwart of Bermuda's music scene Andrew Chamberlain on keyboards and some vocals. Formerly of The Sharx and Drew's Blues Band, Mr. Chamberlain, apart from some beautiful tinkling, did a damn fine Lyle Lovett.

Mr. Chamberlain hinted there might be a few well-known guest artists sitting in over the summer.

And imagine -- all that for a $5 cover.