Change is a constant in the restaurant/bar/club business. Competition is fierce, and many establishments come and go, but sometimes change can be a good thing.

Gus Haddad and Tony Sawaya, new owners of Portland's premier jazz club, Jazz de Opus (33 N.W. 2nd Ave.) certainly think so. They are determined to make Jazz do Opus even better, and at the same time introduce it to those who've never been there before.

For those who aren't jazz aficionados, don't be scared off. Jazz de Opus is also a fine restaurant (Opus Too), with a nice atmos-phere, featuring a full bar and wine list. Elegant, yet comfortable, it's a place to go with friends or with a date, and of course for live jazz featured seven nights a week.

Haddad and Sawaya have ambitious plans for Jazz de Opus, but first and foremost is returning it to it's pre-eminent place in Portland. Haddad emphasizes, "The former owner also ran a topless bar and many of our former customers stopped coming in because of that. We want those people to know Jazz de Opus is under new management, and we want them back!"

Haddad also wants people to know that Jazz de Opus excels as a restaurant. "Our specialty is an open kitchen mesquite broiler." One look at the menu shows the range of cuisine they feature: Sesame Seared Ahi, Braised Lamb Shanks, Honey Sea Scallops, Grilled Swordfish and Greek Calamari Penne are just a few dishes offered.

But if it's live jazz you're looking for, Jazz de Opus is the only 100 percent jazz spot in Portland. It's intimate setting puts you up close to the musicians and they feature some of Portland's finest talent. Appearing regularly are the Dan Balmer Trio, Warren Rand and (the great and irrepressible) Dave Frishberg; and on every Tuesday night, vocalist Nancy King and her pianist, Steve Christofferson. King is one of the city's unsung performers. She is a versatile vocalist, who's equally at home belting out a big band number, delivering a smoky ballad or scatting with the best of them. Christofferson com-plements her perfectly. National headliner Diana Krall sat in on one of their sets recently and this writer was suitably impressed. You'd better catch her here in town while you can!

Also coming soon in Portland's own Tom Grant, who doesn't get a chance to play locally as much now that he's made the "Big Time."