Morningside collective jazzes up Bistro Ten 18 on Thursday nights

Every Thursday night from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Bistro Ten 18, the Morningside Jazz Collective offers students and locals a chance to escape from the hectic atmosphere of the city and to indulge in grassroots jazz, blues, bossa, and funk.

The collective, which has been playing the venue on 110th Street and Amsterdam for slightly over a year, gives Bistro Ten 18 a relaxed, elegant atmosphere that largely differs from more well-known bars in the area like The Abbey and Mel’s.

The venue has proven popular with the musicians themselves. “It’s a great atmosphere. The music sounds great—like being in a French bistro—the wine’s good, there’s no cover, and the acoustics are good,” lead guitarist Lee Welch said.

Welch is originally from Tennessee and started playing the guitar at age 12. His wife is a priest at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, where the group practices. Many of his fellow musicians also live in Morningside Heights. However, with musicians coming from all parts of the city—from Washington Heights to Brooklyn—and, indeed the country, the collective is more than just a group of locals. Melodica player Steven Sandberg, for instance, is a professional composer from Germany, and John Stowell, a guitarist from Portland, Oregon, is scheduled to play with the band next week.

“We have a core group of five, but we have a lot of special guests, like Steven,” Welch said. “10 people drop in on a semi-regular basis and bring their flavor to the mix. The creative title allows us to collect musicians.”

The group’s style and song choices vary throughout the night. “We play the standards—Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, tunes by Joe Henderson and Kenny Dorham, stuff from the History of Jazz—but some more modern stuff as well. We mix it up,” Welch said.

Tom Shannon has been a regular patron at the bistro for more than a year now, since the collective started playing. “It’s a great Thursday night escape. It always has been,” he said.

Shannon, a Morningside Heights resident who worked as a business manager in the music industry for over a decade, was highly complimentary of the collective. “This is really what it’s all about, a grassroots level,” he said. “Everything else is industry—this hasn’t stepped over the line. It’s not showcased, it’s real.”

Shannon also noted how the bistro contributes to the “local microcosms of New York.” “This is what makes New York City unique,” he said, pointing to the musicians.

Up until now, the collective has focused more on playing for the sake of playing, but Welch said they plan to record some independent tracks in the spring. Many of the members have their own separate projects as well. “That’s a real New York jazz thing,” Welch said of being involved in multiple groups. “It’s like Legos.”

The collective has also been good for Bistro Ten 18’s business according to Sandra Coehno, who has worked as a waitress for the Bistro for four years. “Especially at the bar, there’s more people. Tonight’s been unusually slow,” she said, despite the fact that the area was almost completely full. She also mentioned how the collective changes the atmosphere of the bistro from something serious to a more tranquil and laid-back environment.

Coehno’s personal opinion about jazz has also changed. “I’m not a huge jazz fan, but now I appreciate it,” she said.

Welch and his fellow musicians are set to continue playing the Bistro for the visible future—to the approval of local residents, students, and jazz aficionados alike. “This is New York’s best kept secret,” Welch said. “If you like live music, it’s going to make you feel good.”