New World-Class Jazz Club ‘Uncle Cheef’ Opens in Brewster, New York
New York’s scenic Hudson Valley is one of the most vibrant arts regions in the US, with a concentration of countless visual artists, musicians, filmmakers and actors. From famed Woodstock to Hudson, from Beacon down to New York City, the valley is rich in galleries, music venues and theaters. Often this was the result of cultural spillover from New York City. As Greenwich Village, Soho and Brooklyn became increasingly expensive, artists migrated north, “upstate” to more affordable communities and easier places to raise young children. Formerly economically depressed river towns like Beacon and Hudson revitalized and flourished into trendy tourist destinations, driven by the influx of arts based economic development, which usually starts with the influx of visual arts and musicians.
Often this migration is followed by galleries, cafés and restaurants, music clubs and other small shops, and even new housing construction.
There is just one thing. None of that happened in Brewster, the gritty, working-class Putnam County village. Brewster is unique in the Hudson Valley, with distinct population duality: the downtown strip is an enclave for hard-working Central American immigrants, mostly service workers and laborers. The surrounding sleepy middle-class suburbs are bedroom communities with easy train connection to New York City. When it comes to the arts, absolutely nothing happened in Brewster. People had no reason to visit – until now.
Along came Brewster’s own residents, the power-couple of Ian Hendrickson-Smith and his wife Jenny Larisey, who just singlehandedly started the cultural vitalization of Brewster by opening a fine new jazz club ‘Uncle Cheef.’ That unusual name for a club is Hendrickson-Smith’s nickname from his college days. When it came to naming the new club, several musician friends held him to that.
Hendrickson-Smith is a serious heavy-hitter, a fierce, virtuosic saxophonist and flutist whose five Grammy awards certificates adorn the club’s walls. He is a major player on the New York jazz and roots music scene, with deep connections that he can draw on to bring friends and associates to perform at Uncle Cheef. Hendrickson-Smith plays with the house band for Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show and he is a member of the funky group the Roots. His twelve fiery albums as band leader are testaments to his sophisticated compositional prowess and musical eloquence, jazz performed with soulful feeling and a tight groove.
He has played on more than 60 albums as a versatile sideman across genres, performing on all saxes – soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. His long list of sideman-contributions include working with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Al Green, Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, Rufus Wainright, The Roots, Bob Dylan, Celine Dion, Phish, Mofro, Queen Latifah, Robbie Williams, Boyz 2 Men, St Vincent, The Heavy, Michael Buble, The Charles Mingus Big Band Workshop, Phillip Harper, Etta Jones, David Hazeltine, Danny Moore, Poppa Chubby, The J.B.’s (Fred Wesley and Pee Wee Ellis), Adam Scone, Lee Fields, David Sanborn, Sturgill Simpson and more.
Jenny Larisey, the other half of the husband-wife proprietor team, is the operations and house manager, taking care of running the restaurant, the wait staff and bar. She is an experienced club manager having fronted several clubs, including The Cellar in Vancouver, Canada, for 13 years, followed by working at major New York City Clubs. Her skills will be of paramount importance in the club’s success.
The new club in the unexpected locality is unlike any other in the Hudson Valley. The spacious room holds 106 people, with a large stage, a fully equipped kitchen and a great, well-stocked bar, reminiscent of any fine New York City show club.
Visitors will be immediately struck by the décor and they might wonder why Uncle Cheef is probably the only jazz club on the planet with a prominent portrait of Dolly Parton on the wall, but why not? Everybody loves Dolly!
The proprietors Ian Hendrickson-Smith and Jenny Larisey know that a successful club requires more than just good music. It’s all about the vibe, the feeling of comfort and belonging. To use a cliché but fitting line from the TV series ‘Cheers’ – “…they want to know your name and they’re always glad you came.”
There is an easy-going, friendly vibe in the place. The staff is kindly and swift. The food is simple but good tasting. The drinks are top notch. Most importantly, Hendrickson-Smith understands the importance of sound quality. They opened a world-class, but unpretentious club in Brewster, but it could just as easily be in Manhattan, Paris or Tokyo. Everything here is just right, and they avoided some common pitfalls of other clubs – no snobbery and regimentation that can cap the fun. Here the audience, staff and musicians blend harmoniously to create a personal “in your living room” feeling. They allow you plenty of personal space in the large venue, and don’t crowd you like sardines. There is no limit on the fun factor in this venue. It’s all about gemütlichkeit, warm cordiality and comfort, a good vibe, and it is evidently working well. The place is swinging and hopping.
In a time when even bad nosebleed seats at larger local concert halls cost hundreds of dollars, because of ticket price gouging, the cover charge for most shows at Uncle Cheef is only $20. You can see a world-class musical performance, have a nice dinner and a few drinks and see the band up close and intimately, all for far less than a big-venue concert ticket. That’s a superb price-value deal.
The success factors for making a long-lasting music venue are all in place. While Brewster may seem like an unlikely locality, it’s actually perfect for visitors. Uncle Cheef sits right underneath the intersection of I 684 and I 84, with easy highway access from all directions. To the east Danbury and other Connecticut localities, from Westchester County to the south, to Newburgh, Kingston and all point west, and Pawling from the north. No night driving through dark, winding country roads. It’s all well-lit, straight ahead highway access. Plus, it’s an easy Metro North train ride from Manhattan on the Harlem line. The club is upstairs with an elevator for ADA compliance. Plus, you will never need to worry about parking, as the club has a giant lot directly outside.
All that is good, but ultimately, it’s about the music. Uncle Cheef books top-tier acts, mostly directly from the New York City music scene. Ian Hendrickson-Smith is better connected than any booking agent. He brings his friends and their friends, and Hudson Valley audiences are now exposed to some of the hottest musicians on the international jazz scene today. Uncle Cheef is a place of musical discovery. Even after such a short time of operating in Brewster, this is already a cultural treasure.
Ian Hendrickson-Smith explained, “We want to offer a cultural oasis. We are bringing a completely different look and feel. Lots of people have an uninformed view of soul, blues and jazz music. Perhaps they have not been exposed to the music, but once they hear it and are part of the intimate shows, they realize. Wow, yes, I like this. You need all factors to work just right. The lights, the sound, the food, the ambiance, the attitude.”
It’s a great attitude, indeed – superb music, good food and even though the performers names may at first be unfamiliar, each show is a musical adventure and sheer wall-to-wall fun.
Soon they will even offer full live streaming capabilities.
Check out their calendar here https://www.unclecheef.com/calendar.
UNCLE CHEEF
988 Route 22, Brewster, NY
Wednesday – Saturday 6:30pm-11pm
Sunday Brunch 11am-3:30