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The establishment in the city of regular jazz nights in various pubs and other venues is not only a bonus for young players wanting to hone their skills out there in public, but it also provides opportunities for visiting players – some of them pretty illustrious indeed.

I’m thinking of past visitors like Greg Osby playing in the room above The Cross in Moseley, for example.

The highlight gig this week is just such an event. It’s the visit to The Ort Cafe in Balsall Heath for their regular Friday jazz evening of a marvellous trio from New York which includes one of the most extraordinary drummers you will ever see and hear.

The Tom Rainey Trio comprises the man himself on drums, the German saxophonist (and former London resident) Ingrid Laubrock and Mary Halvorson on guitar.

I’ve seen Rainey a few times down the years, always as part of a different band, and I’ve been fascinated by how he interacts with them, bringing to each group the most supportive pulse yet playing with such freedom and constant inventiveness.

Rainey, Laubrock and Halvorson all have highly original approaches to jazz and to improvisation which means they can work in a very loose way, mixing the sounds and rhythms up freely.

It should all make for a seriously refreshing evening.

The Tom Rainey Trio is at The Ort Cafe Friday from 8.30pm, and entry is just £5 on the door. More at or . This gig is in association with Jazzlines.