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 group is billed for a dinner show at Smoke Jazz Club, with Bernstein's guitar at the helm and a rhythm section that brings together three widely heard players from New York's straight-ahead jazz world.
A guitarist for more than three decades, Bernstein is known as a distinctive and influential voice whose playing draws on straight-ahead swing, harmonic sophistication, and lyricism. His collaborators include Sonny Rollins, Lou Donaldson, Diana Krall, Joshua Redman, and Larry Goldings. The Guardian calls his technique “amazing,” citing his seamless combination of single-note lines and chordal playing and saying that “his harmonic ingenuity is endless.” The Times describes him as “a master of straight-ahead swing with submerged complexities,” adding that his advanced music never leaves the listener shut out. All About Jazz says he “stands head and shoulders above the crowd.”
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.