Billy Cobham begins a six-night residency tonight at Ronnie Scott’s. And Frith Street has just announced that Friday’s late-night set will be streamed live via the club’s website.

One of the most influential drummers in jazz history, from his Dreams and Mahavishnu Orchestra days via spots with Miles Davis on Bitches Brew and A Tribute to Jack Johnson the Panamanian New Yorker has been as influential decades later on bands such as Massive Attack as he has been on the heartland of jazz itself, his reach spreading far and wide. ‘Safe From Harm’ on the Bristol trip-hop pioneers’ Blue Lines samples Cobham’s ‘Stratus’ while Yardbirds legend Jeff Beck covered the driving jazz-rock composition on an album recorded at Ronnie Scott’s. SG

For the Cobham stream log in on Friday at 11pm

Billy Cobham, top. Photo: billycobham.com. A slice of ‘Stratus,’ live, above