Peter Bernstein Quartet featuring Sullivan Fortner
Smoke Jazz Club2751 Broadway, New York 10025
Peter Bernstein leads a quartet with featured pianist Sullivan Fortner, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Joe Farnsworth. The guitarist brings this four-piece band to Smoke Jazz Club for a late set, drawing on the straight-ahead swing tradition while leaving room for the harmonic detail and lyricism central to his playing.
Bernstein has spent more than three decades performing and recording with major jazz figures including Sonny Rollins, Lou Donaldson, Diana Krall, Joshua Redman, and Larry Goldings. He is known as an influential and distinctive jazz-guitar voice, with a style that joins single-line playing and chords. The Guardian calls his technique “amazing” and says “his harmonic ingenuity is endless.” The Times describes him as “a master of straight-ahead swing with submerged complexities,” adding that however advanced the music becomes, “the listener never feels shut out.”
Smoke Jazz Club offers a refined evening where jazz takes center stage in a space defined by its candlelit tables, plush red velvet curtains, exposed brick walls, and antique chandeliers. The club spans two connected rooms: one designed for focused listening with impeccable acoustics and iconic jazz photography, and a second lounge featuring a historic full-length bar and café seating. Guests can enjoy classic American cuisine during the first set, which begins at 7pm, creating a supper club experience that blends dining with world-class performances. The venue showcases a mix of legendary artists, contemporary masters, and emerging talents, making each night a unique encounter with jazz artistry. The recent expansion has enhanced comfort without losing the close proximity to the stage that defines the club’s appeal.