Comfortably ensconced in their spacious two-level suite at the Marriott Castle Harbour, the Queen of Jazz and her silver-haired prince consort are momentarily at a loss to explain their success -- both personally and professionally -- as one of the music world's most venerated couples.

"That's a hard question,'' singing legend Ms Cleo Laine -- the woman whose voice the Los Angeles Times has described as "unique and ever-amazing, ranging from low and sultry to treetop high'' -- says in her struggle for an answer.

Her husband, composer-musician Mr. John Dankworth, adds wryly: "I don't think we really know why our relationship works. If we did, we'd probably mess it up.'' Whatever the "it'' that Mr. Dankworth refers to is, it has propelled the couple (married since 1958) to the heights of the jazz-pop world -- she as a singer and undisputed "Queen'' of the form, he as a saxophonist, conductor and scorer of such 1960s film classics as Accident, Darling and The Servant.

In the English-born Laine's case, the rise is a meteoric jump from her modest start as a singer in London dance halls.

During a career that has spanned nearly four decades, the internationally acclaimed chanteuse is as well-known in New Zealand as she is in New York City, having wowed crowds at Carnegie Hall, produced a number of best-selling recordings and co-headlined with Frank Sinatra for six sold-out performances at the Royal Albert Hall.

Currently in Bermuda to perform a pair of shows at the Marriott tomorrow and Sunday evening, Ms Laine is also the only female to have received Grammy Award nominations in three different categories: classical, jazz and pop.

The singer will be accompanied at Castle Harbour by the John Dankworth Group, an ensemble led by her husband.

"It's because we've done so many different things that I think we've lasted so long,'' Ms Laine offers as one explanation to the question of the couple's longevity.

"At one time, no one in the Press or at the recording companies could put a finger on what we do -- we put our eggs in a number of different baskets. As a result, people didn't -- they don't -- get tired of us. They don't get bored and move on to someone else.'' Adds Mr. Dankworth: "We really didn't design it that way. People just asked us to do things that worked out.'' Designed or not, many of the music industry's most illustrious figures -- Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat "King'' Cole -- have asked the couple to "do'' things, and Mr. Dankworth, an Academy Award nominee for the scoring of Return From The Ashes and a Companion of the British Empire, is being characteristically modest when he says that they just worked out.

During his equally varied career, the accredited Doctor of Music has written for the musical theatre, produced countless orchestral compositions and served as the London Symphony Orchestra's pops musical director.

Together with his wife -- who, having acted in everything from Hedda Gabler to Shakespeare, is just as talented on the rafters as she in the recording studio -- Mr. Dankforth also founded a combined broadcast centre-music camp on the grounds of their English estate.

Says Ms Laine proudly: "(The centre) celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.'' Despite their various and widely acclaimed activities, however, it is clear from their comments on the form that jazz remains the favoured medium of both artists.

"Jazz is about sound, improvisation,'' Ms Laine tells The Royal Gazette .

"It is not about the written line, and it is closest to my heart. When I go to New Orleans, I feel like I am home.'' Explaining how it is that two Britons were able to achieve such an affinity for the style, Mr. Dankworth adds: "Jazz is American, but it's also a hybrid music. It can be anything. That's what makes it so marvellous.''