Matching of matrix elements and parton showers

We propose a simple scheme to start a parton-shower evolution description from a given jet configuration in $e^+ e^-$ annihilation events. This allows a convenient combination of the full angular information content of matrix elements with the detailed sub-jet structure of parton showers, and should give a realistic overall description of event properties. Explicit studies with this hybrid approach are presented for the four-jet case, as a simple testing ground of the ideas.Comment: 1+8 pages, LaTeX2e, 5 postscript figures include