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During its heyday it was not uncommon to hear the swinging sounds of jazz swirling from downtown Portland hotspots like The Mural Room, Sydney's and the Jazz Quarry, a mere stone's throw from the campus of Portland State College. This week after a long hiatus, jazz returns to Portland's University District with the opening of LV's Uptown at University Place.

Portland's newest home for jazz, located in PSU's University Place Conference Center, 310 Southwest Lincoln Street, will open Saturday March 12th with an evening benefiting the Leroy Vinnegar Jazz Institute at Portland State University. Hosted by PSU president Daniel O. Bernstine and Dean of Fine and Performing Arts Robert Sylvester, the Grand Opening will feature fine food from the University Place Grill, a wine tasting and the music of pianist Darrell Grant and his all-star trio. Tickets are $70.00. Reservations are available by calling 503 221-0140 or by e-mail at psujazz@pdx.edu.

Beginning on Friday, March 18, LV's Uptown will showcase the sophisticated sounds of Northwest jazz duos and trios on Friday and Saturday nights from 7-10 PM. The spring schedule kicks off with LV's house trio led by Darrell Grant. An associate Professor of Music at Portland State, Grant will also serve as the venue's music director, a role he occupied at noted Portland jazz spot The Typhoon Imperial Lounge from 1999-2001. Artists scheduled to appear at the new club include Portland favorites Dave Frishberg & Rebecca Kilgore, Tall Jazz, Tom Grant, and vocalists Nancy King and Mary Kadderly. The room will also feature visiting Northwest artists such as Seattle vocalist Greta Matassa and Brazilian pianist Jovino Santos Netto.

With forty-one seats in its lounge area, LV's Uptown will offer an up-close and personal jazz experience. "That is part of its appeal," said Julie North, director of Auxiliary Services at PSU. "We hope LV's will provide a comfortable and intimate environment to listen to great music." The club will also feature an appetizer menu that includes coconut shrimp, fried calamari, burgers and wings, specialty cocktails, a full bar and free parking.

For music director Grant, one goal for the club was to carry on the tradition of historic Portland jazz spots like The Chicken Coop and Sidney's in being "piano-friendly." Its new Boston grand piano, provided by Sherman Clay-Moe's Pianos, should make LV's Uptown popular with Portland jazz pianists.

LV's will also be student-friendly, with an additional ten to twelve-seat all-ages section adjacent to the stage area. "We can always use more opportunities for young people be exposed to this music," says Grant, who sees the club as a vehicle to educate the next generation of jazz musicians.

In addition to providing great music, University Place Food and Beverage Manager Mike Watson hopes that LV's Uptown will provide an opportunity to introduce the public to the fine dining available at the University Place Grill. "People are really delighted to discover the quality of our dining room," says Watson. The University Place Grill features a range of moderately priced dining options for breakfast and lunch Monday-Saturday, dinner on weeknights, and an all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch.

Calendar Information:

WHAT: LV's Uptown Jazz Club
WHERE: University Place @ Portland State University, 310 SW Lincoln Street
WHEN: Friday & Saturday's 7-10 PM
INFO: Grand Opening/Benefit for Leroy Vinnegar Jazz Institute at Portland State University
Saturday, March 12, 2005, 7 PM
Reservations available by calling 503 221-0140 or E-mail: psujazz@pdx.edu

LV's Uptown features Jazz Duos & Trios, full bar, free parking, all ages seating section.

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