Bistro Ten 18 Thursday night jazz performances provide local, low-key cool

For those craving a Thursday night without the usual fight to reach the bar at Campo or the nagging fear that someone will request the hold-out hit “Party in the USA,” Bistro Ten 18 might have a lot of appeal.

The bistro, located at 110th and Amsterdam, across from the well-loved and well-worn 1020, is offering free jazz performances from 9:30 to 12:30 on Thursday nights. The French restaurant and bar has been hosting the Morningside Jazz Collective on these nights since Sept. 9.

The bistro itself feels warm and inviting. Its ambiance stands in stark contrast to the more frenetic settings of popular Columbia nightlife haunts. The mean age of the crowd that arrived throughout the night for Thursday jazz was decidedly above that of Columbia’s student body—in fact, the restaurant doesn’t feel at all like it is as close to Columbia’s campus as it is.

Students probably won’t see a lot of their classmates, which could be a pro or con, depending on who you are and what kind of night you want. A Thursday night at Bistro Ten 18 would be ideal for relaxed, late dining or drinks with friends. It offers the chance to unwind at the end of a long week in a slightly more refined manner than the typical Thursday night out, with less debauchery and more jazz.

Food is slightly pricier at Bistro Ten 18 than other Thursday night favorites, such as Koronet’s and surrounding eateries, so it would be perfect for special occasions or maybe just a treat after midterms week.

When people weren’t dancing or milling about, bar chairs were turned toward the music, and the Collective received warm applause between sets. The energy of the jazz grew as the night progressed. The sound was never overpowering: Guests continued to talk, eat, and breathe the deep aroma of brawny oysters, hops, and crusty French bread while clearly appreciating the musical treat. Thanks to their accessible sound, it doesn’t take a jazz connoisseur to appreciate the Morningside Jazz Collective.

The Collective was organized by guitarist Lee Welch, and its formation stemmed partially from a small world realization that several of the members had taken lessons from the same guitar teacher. On vocals, the Collective’s special guest for the evening brought an up-tempo energy to the performance. Her voice was lovely, and she engaged the audience in between songs with short anecdotes about their lyrics or origin.

They enjoy playing Brazilian bossa novas, which were all the rage during the late 1950s and early 1960s, when Brazilian music met the sounds of American jazz. They draw from a pool of musicians including Joe Giglio, Kenny Wessel, Lee Welch, and Carl Baser on guitar; Christian Konopka and Joe Fitzgerald on bass; Joe Izzo and Lou Grassi on drums, and Zac Vancanti on sax. The group first performed together casually at a jam in the garden of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Bistro Ten 18 offers accessible jazz and a night of diversion different from the typical, boisterous college Thursday. The free music may be a chief draw for some, or for others, a lovely backdrop to a nice dinner and drinks. The atmosphere is subdued yet inviting, and it might just be the respite needed after a week at the grind.