There's an explosive transatlantic double-bill at the Mac on Wednesday, with Mujician representing the home team and the Dan Weiss Trio the visitors from New York.

Mujician is a quartet of equals, bringing together pianist Keith Tippett, saxophonist Paul Dunmall, Paul Rogers on bass and Tony Levin on drums. Together they bring vast experience of working at the free end of jazz improvising and are a refreshing reminder of what music sounds like when compromise is out of the question.

The American drummer Dan Weiss is clearly a believer that "it's all just music" as his CV includes playing with everyone from Lee Konitz to Wayne Krantz, studying the tabla and Indian classical percussion, and a heavy metal band called Bloody Panda.

His latest recording is with pianist Jacob Sacks and bassist Thomas Morgan, and this is the group you can hear on Wednesday evening.

This is a Birmingham Jazz gig, it starts at the earlier time of 7.30pm (suggests a good-value long evening), and tickets are £10 (£7) from 0121 440 3838 or via www.macarts.co.uk.

If you miss the Dan Weiss musicians on Wednesday, they are in town to do educational work with the Birmingham Conservatoire jazz students and will be joining some of them at the Yardbird Jazz Club's Cobweb Collective jam session on Thursday from 10pm. The Yardbird is in Paradise Place and for more details go to www.birminghamjazz.co.uk.

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 Fans of the late, great, gorgeous George, take note. A moving film called George Melly's Last Stand, made in his final days and showing the singer and writer's determination to carry on despite his failing health, is due to be aired on BBC4 at 9pm on Wednesday. Worth setting the recorder for, if not staying in.

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There's always a lot happening in British jazz, but still one of the defining bands of the past few years has been Polar Bear.

Their third album is eagerly awaited, but in the meantime you can hear what it might sound like live on Saturday when the band, led by drummer Seb Rochford, bring their innovative jazz to Taylor John's House in Coventry.

Buy tickets in advance from www.tinangeltickets.co.uk for £10 or pay £15 on the door. It opens at 9pm.

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 Finally, it might not be jazz, but it's still damn fine. Flamenco, that is, and there is a festival of it taking place over the next weekend at the Town Hall.

Called Emocion Flamenco, it features the Pepa Molina dance company on Friday, Los Arrieritos in 13 Rosas on Saturday, and El Ultimo Tango on Sunday. There are also workshops if you want to try dance, guitar or hand-percussion yourself.

There is more at www.flamenco-birmingham.com and you can book at www.thsh.co.uk or on 0121 780 3333.

Other gigs this week: Thursday - Crossroads Blues Club is at the Tower of Song Cafe Bar, 107 Pershore Road South, Cotteridge. It starts at 8.30pm, is free, and this week providing the blues are The Blues Toones (Graham Toones on piano, and Yvonne on vocal and harp).

Friday - Pianist Levi French takes his band to the Symphony Hall Foyer Bar to ease your Rush Hour Blues. Free music and good vibes from 5.30pm.

Saturday - Marcina Arnold Septet brings danceable jazz and Latin to the Yardbird from 9pm. Entrance is £4 (£3 NUS) on the door.

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