Dick,
Thats a harmonic minor scale, extensively found in classical music. I aso find it sounds 'jazzy' and use it to solo in songs like 'Summertime' and Richard Thompson's 'Al Bowley's in Heaven'. You can sometimes flatten the seventh on the way down the scale, but sharpen it again on the way up.

See here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minor_scale

cheers
KP