Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Confusion; Distraction; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Aircraft; Human Factors
On right downwind; abeam approach end of Runway 10L at ZZZ; Approach Control cleared us for visual approach.  Shortly after; while still on downwind leg and descending from about 7K to 5.7K; ATC reported traffic at 6K moving from our right to left.  ATC asked us to commence our base turn now (earlier than we planned).  While starting the base turn; we saw traffic that was probably our conflict.  TCAS gave traffic call followed quickly by climb RA.  First Officer complied with RA guidance (which lasted only a few seconds).  We then completed the visual approach to 10L and landed uneventfully.ATC should not have cleared us for a visual approach with a known traffic conflict between us and the intended landing point.  By the time ATC asked us to commence a base turn (earlier than normal for an aircraft our size); it was too late.  ATC should have kept us on radar vectors until clear of conflicts or until we reported the traffic in sight.
Air carrier Captain states ATC issued traffic but did nothing to prevent a potential conflict which resulted in a RA.