Hepcat ... hepcat???

I've been asked - even by jazz musicians - what the term hepcat means.
Here are some definitions I could find.

◊ The Webster Dictionary

1. One who performs jazz music.
2. A person who is hep or hip; same as hipster; - an older term becoming dated and less used.

◊ The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000

• A performer or devotee of swing and jazz, especially during the 1940s.

◊ The Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc.

1. a performer or admirer of jazz, esp. swing.
2. a person who is hep; hipster.

◊ The World of Swing Newsletter #2 October 2000

• A person who is unusually aware of and interested in new and unconventional patterns esp. in music; characterized by a keen informed awareness of or interest in the newest developments

◊ The BIG BANDS DATABASE PLUS (UK)

• Originally a musician in a Swing Band.
  Ex: Satchmo is one hep cat!
  Now, anyone who likes Swing music.
  Ex: That "hepcat" loves to jive.

The definition given by "World of Swing" definitely comes closest to what I would define myself. That's the reason for quoting Miles Davis: "There are only two kinds of music: good music and bad music." My parents listened to classical music mainly. I played the double bass as a teenager in the orchestra of my local music school, performing classical music. I began listening to jazz music as a teenager. First it was mainly be bop/hard bop. But later on I went through all the jazz styles, and finally opened my ears for any good music. My collection of LPs and CDs holds round about 1,500 items, mainly jazz. But I also listen to the Dire Straits or Sting or to Bach, Beethoven, and Steve Reich, to name just a few.

Please don't mistake me for Paula Poundstone's Hep Cat! Neither could I live with someone who drinks a lot, nor am I a cat ;-)