Just Open: Bird's Basement, Melbourne CBD, jazzes up the city

Some know Albert Dadon as a property developer. Others are more familiar with Albare, his stage name when touring the world as a jazz guitarist. But as of this week Dadon wears another hat: founder of Melbourne's newest jazz club, Bird's Basement.

Dadon signed a partnership agreement with Birdland New York to open a similar club in Melbourne – the kind where you can have dinner and a show without compromising either. Food and music are on par here: head chef Luigi Buono (ex Bistro Bakini and Caffe e Cucina) is in charge of the kitchen and jazz star Ravi Coltrane (son of the legendary John Coltrane) will launch the music program, sax in hand.

Buono's menu is a compilation of Italian recipes collected from European travels and memories of his grandparents' farm in Sorrento, on Italy's Amalfi Coast.

Classics include vitello tonnato, tagliatelle with lamb ragu and tiramisu. There's also a selection of imported and national cheese, best paired with a glass of Australian vino or Italian by the bottle.

The 200-seat venue has been an empty shell since Dadon bought and developed the site at 350 William Street, opposite the Flagstaff Gardens, in 2005, setting aside the basement for the jazz club, with entry via the aptly named Singers Lane, which runs off La Trobe Street.

Dadon will perform at the club during a Sunday residency with the Urban Grooves Project when he's in the country.

"I don't want it to be just another jazz club," he says. "I want it to be the place."

Another venue called Beer, Wine and Calzone will open above Bird's Basement within a week.

Two shows nightly, 6pm and 9.30pm.

11 Singers Lane, Melbourne birdsbasement.com