Bennetts Lane Jazz Club opens in Brunswick warehouse
Michael Tortoni’s new venue accommodates more than 300 people and includes recording facilities for studio sessions and live performances.
Melbourne’s Bennetts Lane Jazz Club name has returned with a new Brunswick venue, where founder Michael Tortoni has converted a warehouse beside his existing club, The Jazz Lab, into a larger performance space.
The venue at 27 Leslie Street accommodates more than 300 people across several levels. Seating includes tables on the ground floor, a balcony, tiered bleachers and padded nooks. Tortoni developed the interior with designers and builders.
Acoustic treatment covers the walls and ceiling, while the floor is carpeted. A separate recording room beneath the bleachers allows musicians to record studio sessions or live sets. Performances are streamed weekly through the online platform Oh Jazz TV.
Tortoni hopes to book Australian and overseas performers, but says supporting emerging Melbourne musicians is his main aim. He wants artists to develop at The Jazz Lab before progressing to the bigger room next door.
The original CBD club opened in 1992 and closed in 2015, having hosted musicians including Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. Tortoni opened the 200-capacity Jazz Lab two years after the closure. He also programs the Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
