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Dwight Trible will open the “Jazz at the Grand” concert series tonight.

The UCLA Student Committee for the Arts is known for bringing big-name concerts to campus, from Love and Arthur Lee last year to George Clinton in spring 2002. But faced with a budget that cut their spending power in half from 2002-2003, the group has aimed for a more low-key affair with less star power but just as much artistic viability.

The product of SCA’s savvy is “Jazz at the Grand,” a unique offering that may not have come along if it weren’t for the committee’s budget constraints. For one night each month until May, SCA will feature performances from underground jazz favorites Winnard Harper, Robert Stewart, Tenth World and Dwight Trible. The series starts tonight with a performance by Trible, whose vocal talents have made him a celebrated artist around the L.A. jazz circuit since his arrival to the city in 1979.

“Usually, we try to go with more rock and pop-oriented acts,” said Kristen Bowen, who is serving her second year on SCA. “This year we went for jazz and we managed to get a lot of good talent for a good price. It was a miracle.”

The four acts each hail from different metropolitan scenes, from the Bay Area to New York. Trible, the only L.A. musician in the series, has a virtuosic voice that’s made him a favorite of local publications. A common performer at Leimert Park and local jazz venues, Trible isn’t as well-known outside of Los Angeles, but his local status is indicative of the nature of jazz scenes, which often contain artists that rarely embark on nationwide tours.

In his quest to contact talent from around the nation, Malik Chaudhary, the series’ producer, worked closely with the well-connected local jazz artist Dennis Sullivan. Sullivan performs often at the Farmers’ Market in Westwood.

“I was not that familiar with all of (the musicians,) I was just very interested in bringing the music to campus in a format that previously didn’t exist,” Chaudhary said. “What’s unique is that we have artists from all over the country, and the price is way lower than the Jazz Bakery or another club. (The series) provides students with an opportunity to hear music that they otherwise may not be exposed to.”

The SCA’s financial troubles put relentless pressure on the committee as it planned the series. Though the committee’s 18 members – made up of undergraduates and graduates from a wide range of departments – approved the initial proposal for the series, it also needed a green light from the dean’s office, which is ultimately responsible for allocating the funds. The office sent the proposal back and declared it financially unsound, forcing the committee to further cut down on costs.

“A lot of people were expecting to spend the money that was first allocated and to not be able to use that money, they obviously weren’t pleased,” Chaudhary said.

But Chaudhary and Bowen are both very pleased with how the series has managed to turn out. Though they weren’t able to publicize the event as much as they would have liked or start the series in January as once planned, the resulting series has managed the tight budget while providing the students with a unique campus experience. Chaudhary is quick to point out that sometimes, a modest event is in fact the more special one.

“You don’t need to buy drinks, the cover isn’t nearly as high, emphasis is on the music,” Chaudhary said. “After going to local shows you notice little things that you didn’t see (before).”

Dwight Trible performs tonight at 8 at Kerckhoff Grand Salon. Regular tickets are $15; student tickets are $7. Tickets are available at the Central Ticket Office or at www.uclalive.com.