Peter Bernstein Quartet featuring Sullivan Fortner
Smoke Jazz Club2751 Broadway, New York 10025
Peter Bernstein leads a quartet with pianist Sullivan Fortner, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Joe Farnsworth. The evening is presented as a dinner show, with Bernstein's guitar at the front of a band built around piano, bass and drums.
Bernstein is a jazz guitarist whose playing is rooted in straight-ahead swing, with harmonic sophistication and a lyrical sensibility. Over more than three decades, he has performed and recorded with Sonny Rollins, Lou Donaldson, Diana Krall, Joshua Redman and Larry Goldings, among other leading jazz figures. The Guardian calls his technique “amazing,” citing his seamless combination of single-line and chordal playing and saying that “his harmonic ingenuity is endless.” All About Jazz says he “stands head and shoulders above the crowd,” while The Times describes him as “a master of straight-ahead swing with submerged complexities,” adding that even when the music is advanced, “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.