Every Tom, Dick and Stanley gave rave reviews for the inaugural concert at downtown Salt Lake City's newest music venue Wednesday.

Virtuoso bassist Stanley Clarke played the first show at State Street's The State Room, and the concert hall proved to be as much a success as Clarke, who told the 200 audience members that he was honored to be opening a venue. It's much better than closing down a venue, he joked.

As promised, the new venue, owned by local promoters Chris Mautz and Darin Piccoli, opened its first show relatively on time, with Clarke and his three-piece backing band taking the stage 10 minutes after the advertised show time of 8 p.m. Mautz and Piccoli preceded Clarke's arrival by gathering onstage to tell the crowd that opening their own place was a dream fulfilled.

The goal, Piccoli told the crowd, was to provide "great music in a comfortable environment." Mautz added that The State Room was intended to be a "sanctuary of good ol' fashioned live music."

Clarke, 57, played the stand-up bass all evening, giving the adoring crowd a taste of music from his upcoming "Jazz in the Garden" album. He was joined onstage by a young but impressive trio: an Israeli pianist, a Kentucky fiddler and a drummer from Compton, Calif.

Clarke gave the crowd 90 minutes of music and songs that showed the range of his career, with two songs from his Return to Forever days in the 1970s, including a dazzling 24-minute rendition of "After the Cosmic Rain." He also played "Three Wrong Notes," a song he wrote a few months ago (with a chorus Clarke lifted from Charlie Parker, the bassist admitted). The 6-foot-3-inch Clarke cradled his bass all evening, leading his young band members with head nods and showing off his innovative percussive style of bass throughout.

While Clarke's performance was never a question mark, the venue was, and it passed with flying colors. Besides the lingering smell of black paint that overpowered the casual atmosphere in the venue's foyer, everything else worked well: Drink lines at intermission were fast-moving, the tiled bathrooms were clean, nearby parking was ample, drinks were cheap (the reviewer had a cranberry juice for $1), and, most important, the acoustics were impeccable.

The seating inside the 300-person-capacity hall was comfortable, with three tiers all sloped upward so that all sightlines were clear and no views were obstructed. Cushioned movie-style seats were positioned in the back -- with cupholders! -- and cushioned church-style pews were situated midroom. Next to the stage were cabaret tables, with all seats general admission.

There are just a few kinks to be worked out before The State Room's April 8 concert with alt-country musicians Jason Isbell and Justin Townes Earle. As soon as the paint dries and the room is ventilated, the venue should prove to be the music sanctuary its owners want it to be.