In light of the astonishing variety of musical experience now available to a global audience, Cage's words have a ring of prescience even 40 years after they were written. And Wallumrod's ensemble perfectly exemplifies that tendency for musicians, especially those of a jazz persuasion, to absorb and reinterpret the musical culture around them.

Drawing on folk, classical and jazz, the four-piece ensemble, which features some of the Scandinavian scene's most innovative players, is poised at that elusive junction between tradition and innovation to which all good jazz aspires. Joining Wallumrod is the trumpeter Arve Henriksen, known for his haunting contributions to Norwegian electronica heroes Supersilent, violinist Nils Okland . . . master of the Hardanger fiddle . . . and drummer Per Oddvar Johansen. The entirely acoustic band perform without amplification and the venues have been chosen accordingly. They play St Anne's Church on Dawson Street in Dublin (Thursday 23), the Aula Maxima in Galway (24) and SARC, Belfast (25).

Poised at a different, altogether funkier junction, are Irish trio Organics. Now playing regularly for nearly 10 years, organist Justin Carroll, guitarist John Moriarty and drummer Kevin Brady have become one of the most positive forces on the Dublin scene, releasing an excellent album of original music, New Light (Music Network, 2004), as well as providing backing for many illustrious visitors.

But their latest collaboration is such a perfect match, it's a wonder no-one thought of it before. Saxophonist Richie Buckley is one of the legends of Irish jazz, with a virtuosic grasp of the saxopohone tradition and a CV that extends from Freddie Hubbard and Elmer Bernstein to Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, and even Barry Manilow. In Organics, Buckley has found a perfect foil and his addition to the trio's sound makes for a group that will delight traditionalists and avant-gardists equally. Organics and Richie Buckley undertake a five-date tour, supported by the Music Network, beginning in The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon (25), continuing in Dolans, Limerick (29), the Intermediate School, Killorglin (30), the Newman Institute, Ballina (1), and Mahon's Hotel, Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh (2).

Also indicative of Cage's predicted heterogeny are Australian saxophonist Julien Wilson's trio, who play the Pendulum club in JJ Smyths tonight. Featuring nylon string guitar and piano accordion, the trio draw on tango, bossanova, folk and jazz sources, filtered through Wilson's compositions, which have been informed by studies with such masters of the jazz avant-garde as George Russell.

JJ Smyth's upstairs room is also the venue next Friday for a rare joint appearance by three of the country's leading musicians.

Together, guitarist Tommy Halferty, bassist Ronan Guilfoyle and drummer Conor Guilfoyle have been training generations of Irish musicians at Newpark Music School for over 20 years.

But their history as a working trio stretches even further and their rapport and intensity make for exhilarating moments of Cage's bewilderment and joy. Now more likely to be heard overseas (their last engagement was in Mexico City earlier this year) this is a great opportunity to hear three musicians at the height of their powers.