Peter Bernstein, in Mehldau's Words

**mr. beaumont** · 02-26-2016, 06:50 PM

Man, I think Bill made some of the best music of his career right before he died.

It bums me to see big names...well shit, anybody, slag a giant like that...but I get it too...I'm sure Brad's had to deal with 20-odd years of Evan's comparisons. Ill-informed Evan's comparisons by the same dumbshits that think Bill only played ballads...so he might have gotten a wee bit sick of it...since he sounds nothing like Bill.

What irritates me the most is when we post a random quote here by these giants and base a lot on one sentence in our discussions. These guys are people too. Ever say anything you didn't really mean?

Except we don't have a forum full of nobody's dissecting our every word.

**jordanklemons** · 02-27-2016, 01:34 AM

Amen Jeff. Soooooo... anyone want to change the subject and talk about Peter instead? I don't see him talked about all that much in these parts. Was hoping to change that. Didn't realize it would create such controversy.

**eddy b.** · 02-27-2016, 02:04 AM

Peter Bernstein is awesome! Of the many aspects of his playing that I'm fascinated with is his ability to make an archtop straight into an amp sound modern. He is fully full on jazz no rock, no fusion just absolutely great straight ahead super bad jazz guitar playing. Tone, Taste and Time for days....Can I get an Amen?

**christianm77** · 02-27-2016, 09:57 AM

Peter Bernstein may be my favourite living jazz guitarist. Certainly up there, anyway. I don't there are many who touch him.

The absence of surface complexity, artifice and display in his playing are pretty unique and very brave. He seems to have no desire in his playing other than to use the instrument as a tool for music, and I love that.

**mr. beaumont** · 02-27-2016, 10:06 AM

Peter's one of those rare players who can sound modern and traditional in the same phrase. He's awesome.

I don't listen to guitar players so much these days, but I think a PB binge listen is on the way.

**grahambop** · 02-27-2016, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by christianm77

Peter Bernstein may be my favourite living jazz guitarist. Certainly up there, anyway. I don't there are many who touch him.

The absence of surface complexity, artifice and display in his playing are pretty unique and very brave. He seems to have no desire in his playing other than to use the instrument as a tool for music, and I love that.

I totally agree with Christian - couldn't have put it better myself. I saw Peter with the Goldings/Stewart trio a year ago and it was one of the best gigs I've seen.

I also spoke to Peter afterwards and he is a really down to earth, friendly guy.

**grahambop** · 02-27-2016, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by grahambop

I totally agree with Christian - couldn't have put it better myself. I saw Peter with the Goldings/Stewart trio a year ago and it was one of the best gigs I've seen.

I also spoke to Peter afterwards and he is a really down to earth, friendly guy.

Here's a great video of the trio in concert at the Village Vanguard:

**christianm77** · 02-27-2016, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by grahambop

I totally agree with Christian - couldn't have put it better myself. I saw Peter with the Goldings/Stewart trio a year ago and it was one of the best gigs I've seen.

I also spoke to Peter afterwards and he is a really down to earth, friendly guy.

Where did you see the trio? It's possible we were at the same gig.

**grahambop** · 02-27-2016, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by christianm77

Where did you see the trio? It's possible we were at the same gig.

It was at the Watermill jazz club in Dorking.

**christianm77** · 02-27-2016, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Peter's one of those rare players who can sound modern and traditional in the same phrase. He's awesome.

I don't listen to guitar players so much these days, but I think a PB binge listen is on the way.

I'm on Light Blue at the moment. Burning!

**christianm77** · 02-27-2016, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by grahambop

It was at the Watermill jazz club in Dorking.

Ah OK, the Daves (Cliff and Warren) would have been there - do you know them?

I saw them at Ronnie's. My friend Nat Steele went to that one I think in addition to the two Ronnie's gig just cos he loves them so much.

I hear the Watermill's gig was burning... They were awesome at Ronnie's, but it's not the most vibey room these days....

**grahambop** · 02-27-2016, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by grahambop

It was at the Watermill jazz club in Dorking.

Here's a couple of photos taken at the gig by my friend Brian. Dave Cliff is on the right in the group photo.

**grahambop** · 02-27-2016, 03:51 PM

A good review of the gig here:

Larry Goldings, Bill Stewart and Peter Bernstein get Watermill Jazz grooving

**christianm77** · 02-27-2016, 03:53 PM

Looks like Ross Anderson in the front row, is it, three seats left of Dave Cliff? Nat is on the extreme left just behind Dave Warren....

I should have gone to that one!

**mr. beaumont** · 02-27-2016, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by christianm77

I'm on Light Blue at the moment. Burning!

Doing his record with Mel Rhyne right now. Yeah.

**christianm77** · 02-27-2016, 03:57 PM

BTW If anyone PM's me, I have a recording of a masterclass with Peter on my hard drive somewhere from 2013.

**christianm77** · 02-27-2016, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by christianm77

Looks like Ross Anderson in the front row, is it, three seats left of Dave Cliff? Nat is on the extreme left just behind Dave Warren....

I should have gone to that one!

No, according to the article, it's not Ross....

**grahambop** · 02-27-2016, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by christianm77

Looks like Ross Anderson in the front row, is it, three seats left of Dave Cliff? Nat is on the extreme left just behind Dave Warren....

I should have gone to that one!

If you look at the review I posted (just before your post) it lists everyone who was there - probably quite a lot of people you know!

**David B** · 02-27-2016, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by grahambop

Here's a couple of photos taken at the gig by my friend Brian. Dave Cliff is on the right in the group photo.

'A Great Day in Dorking'!

**David B** · 02-27-2016, 05:28 PM

Always enjoy a Peter Bernstein thread! He's my number one guy playing today.

To tie in with the Mehldau detour this thread took, I'll say that one of my favourite albums under Peter's name is 'Stranger in Paradise' which features both Brad Mehldau and Larry Grenadier, along with Bill Stewart.

Attachment 28712

The title track also appears on Jimmy Cobb's 'The Original Mob' in 2014, along with Peter and Brad:

**David B** · 02-27-2016, 05:42 PM

Peter has a new quartet recording coming out on Smoke Sessions Records in late Spring with Gerald Clayton, Doug Weiss and Bill Stewart.

**Endorphins** · 02-27-2016, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by David B

Peter has a new quartet recording coming out on Smoke Sessions Records in late Spring with Gerald Clayton, Doug Weiss and Bill Stewart.

good news

**RonD** · 02-27-2016, 11:38 PM

Not much to add, but to say that Peter's one of my favorites.
I love the brief clips of his masterclasses that are available on youtube.
He always hits home with his advice!

**srlank** · 02-27-2016, 11:50 PM

I've noticed that 90% of the time that I'm learning a new tune, I've been able to find a version of Peter Bernstein on a recording or live on YouTube.