Jazz Minds, a longtime jazz venue near the Hawai‘i Convention Center, is undergoing a rehabilitation, and with it has come a renewed appeal.

Formerly a divey little spot known as Jazz Minds Art & Cafe, the venue was purchased last summer by a group of local and Japanese jazz lovers who hope to combine their love of jazz and sushi into an authentic nightclub experience.

Rechristened as Jazz Minds Honolulu, the venue had a soft reopening in August and has been slowly building its brand with some intriguing jazz performances. It started offering some happy-hour food and drinks just a few weeks ago.

The experience

Let’s be honest. This corner of town has a shaky reputation, labeled “the last red-light district in Honolulu” by The New York Times a few years ago. That rap was an issue for the old Jazz Minds, but it’s less of one now, as several of those adult-oriented businesses — including the one next door — have closed. During happy hour you’ll arrive while it’s still daylight, and there are a few free parking spaces right in front of the club.

One might have expected the new owners to gut the place in favor of something bright and shiny, but fortunately, they didn’t go that route. They kept things cozy and intimate, with the red-brick walls covered with music-related art and photographs. There’s no TV, but order some sushi and you can watch chef Ray Howard at work at the small sushi bar.

Out on the floor, the former establishment’s big, low lounge chairs have been replaced by small, square high tables, seating four people each. You can actually have a conversation around one of those tables without shouting.

In total, Jazz Minds seats almost 120 people now, a considerable increase. I’m sure the musicians feel the energy of the larger crowd, but the space is still small enough for interaction between musician and audience, and we experienced that during our visit.

Happy hour is 6-8 p.m. daily, easing people in the door before live music starts on most days.

On Thursdays, however, when we visited, the fine pianist Tommy James started a set with his trio at 7:30 p.m. The leader of the Duke Ellington Orchestra now has a regular gig there on Thursdays, and that’s quite a coup for Jazz Minds. Come during happy hour, and you might be able to catch some of this stellar performer’s set before the $15 cover charge kicks in.

On Fridays the music begins at at 8 p.m. Other nights, the music doesn’t begin until 9 or 9:30. For updated information, be sure to go to Jazz Mind’s current website, jazzhonolulu.com. (If you search “Jazz Minds” online, you might be directed to the former owners’ website, honolulujazzclub.com, which is outdated.)

The food

The sushi at the new Jazz Minds is excellent. Howard was trained in Japan, and the attention to detail that one might expect from such experience showed in our Maguro Hamachi Zuke Sushi donburi orders ($18, $20 outside of happy hour). Aside from the obvious freshness of the fish, which he has flown in, Howard cut the fish into flower-shaped delicacies. Happy-hour offerings include several donburi options, all priced at $18, and I suspect all are elegantly prepared and tasty.

The happy-hour pupu menu also includes edamame and fries ($3, normally $6) and Buffalo wings ($6, normally $13). While the wings were satisfactory, the revelation here was the plate of Ahi Nachos ($9, normally $15), made with crunchy won ton skins. It had just the right balance of salt, sweet, spice and ahi flavor, along with a variety of textures.

The drinks

Currently, happy-hour drinks include red and white house wines for $6 and Budweiser on tap for $3. Instead, I ordered a Long Island Ice Tea, on special that day for $9, normally $11. It went down well with the food.

Jazz Minds also offers Japanese liqueurs and sake, each brand rated for sweetness and dryness. It’s a nice touch and very helpful when considering what will go with the sushi. And we appreciated it when the bartender came to our table to clarify our drink order.

The verdict

On its face the new Jazz Minds is comfortable, modest and friendly — but then there’s the terrific sushi and the live music, which make it pretty special. Co-owner Ralph Carr is promising more.

“We’re just in the infant stages of trying to put a good product out there,” said Carr, a Seattle native who came to Hawaii about three years ago.

Carr said he will be adding drink and food selections to the happy-hour offerings soon, so while it’s certainly worthwhile to go and enjoy the happy hour now, there will be plenty of reason to go back.