Peter Bernstein Quartet featuring Sullivan Fortner
Smoke Jazz Club2751 Broadway, New York 10025
Peter Bernstein brings his quartet to Smoke Jazz Club with Sullivan Fortner on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Joe Farnsworth on drums. Bernstein leads the group on guitar in a dinner-show engagement built around his straight-ahead swing approach, with the lineup pairing his harmonic guitar language with Fortner’s piano and the Washington-Farnsworth rhythm section. The club calls it an acclaimed quartet, and the set places Bernstein’s long-running bandleading voice at the forefront.
Born in New York, Bernstein has spent more than three decades performing and recording with leading jazz figures including Sonny Rollins, Lou Donaldson, Diana Krall, Joshua Redman, and Larry Goldings. His work is rooted in straight-ahead swing, while making room for deep harmonic sophistication and a lyrical sensibility; his music draws on original compositions, jazz standards, and the Great American Songbook. The Guardian praises his “seamless combination of single-line and chordal playing” and says his “harmonic ingenuity is endless.” All About Jazz writes that he “stands head and shoulders above the crowd,” while The Times calls him “a master of straight-ahead swing with submerged complexities.”
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.