I'll be spending quite a bit of time this week listening to an excellent reissue of music by the late composer and violinist John Mayer and his band Indo-Jazz Fusions.

Etudes might have been recorded in 1969, 20 years before record shops had a world music section, but it sounds remarkably fresh.

Its combination of Indian instruments and Western ones, its orchestrated parts and improvised sections, its mixing of all kinds of influences, not just jazz and Indian classical music, are all current in contemporary music.

It's on the First Hand label and the liner notes are by John's son, Jonathan.

Also coming out on First Hand is sitar player Jonathan's album with guitarist Justin Quinn and Neil Craig on tabla.

Called The Teak Project, the trio plays Birmingham Conservatoire tonight, the same institution where John Mayer was professor and composer-in-residence towards the end of his life.

So there is a deal of historical resonance to tonight's gig.

While in the late Sixties the mixing of different musical cultures and styles drew quite a lot of attention to their contrasts, in the Noughties the mix is a lot more cohesive, and since John McLaughlin's Shakti project in the 1970s the acoustic guitar has seemed a natural bedfellow of the sitar and tabla.

The Teak Project sound, despite their youth, like they have been playing in this musical area forever, with beautifully nuanced interplay, wonderful control of dynamics and subtle drama.

They should be scintillating in concert, and you can find out at the Recital Hall at Birmingham Conservatoire tonight at 7.30pm. Tickets are just £5. For more information, especially how to get to the venue, call 0121 331 5901 or go to conservatoire.bcu.ac.uk

* On Wednesday things take a dramatic turn towards the less gentle region of the music. After the incense and candlelight of The Teak Project, prepare for the ripe industrial stink and blinding arc lights of Led Bib.

Under the leadership of drummer Mark Holub, Liran Donin on bass, Toby McLaren on Fender Rhodes, and Pete Grogan and Chris Williams on alto saxophones give all those who feel jazz has become far too polite and safe something to shout about.

And shout you will need to, should you be at the bar at The Rainbow on Wednesday evening mid set.

Actually, they do have their quiet bits - when a bass line that sounds remarkably like the tune of I Heard It Through The Grapevine emerges and everyone pauses for breath, for example.

While there might be noise there is also a great deal of subtlety within it - this is music to get the experimental jazz crowd grinning as well as the head-bangers.

Led Bib play The Rainbow as part of the Jazz Club sessions organised by Birmingham Jazz. Doors open at 8pm, it's a modest £3 to get in, DJ Maxwell will be on the decks and the band kick off later.

Led Bib's album Sizewell Tea is available on the Babel label and there is a new limited edition Led Bib Live about to come out - with any luck you might be able to buy a copy on Wednesday.

For more info go to birminghamjazz.co.uk or ledbib.com or myspace.com/rainbowevents

* Also this week:

Thursday: Andy Hamilton and the Blue Notes have a special guest in the form of Russian saxophonist Oleg Kireyev. The man from Jamaica first met the man from the Urals at the Birmingham International Jazz Festival and their rapport has ensured this return visit to the Bearwood Corks Club. The doors open at 8.30pm, and the band is on at 9pm. It's £4 (£3) to get in and there is more on bearwoodjazz.co.uk

* Early reminder: Clear the diary for Wednesday, March 26 - that's Andy Hamilton's 90th birthday and he will be celebrating with friends at the Town Hall. More in due course.

* If you have any news or views you'd like to share, email me at peterbacon@mac.com The blog is at thejazzbreakfast.blogspot.com