Peter Bernstein & Jesse van Ruller at Soul Mama

Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein (b. 1967, New York City) has been a part of the jazz scene in New York and abroad since 1989. During that time he has participated in over 200 recordings and numerous festival, concert and club performances with musicians from all generations. As a leader, Peter has released 12 albums and a DVD, Live at Smoke. He got his first break while attending the New School when he met the legendary guitarist Jim Hall. Hall asked Peter to participate in his Invitational Concert as part of the 1990 JVC Jazz Festival. The event featured such guitarists as John Scofield and Pat Metheny and was released as "Live at Town Hall Vol. 2" by Music Masters. Hall noted that Peter " ...has paid attention to the past as well as the future. ...

read more

Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein (b. 1967, New York City) has been a part of the jazz scene in New York and abroad since 1989. During that time he has participated in over 200 recordings and numerous festival, concert and club performances with musicians from all generations. As a leader, Peter has released 12 albums and a DVD, Live at Smoke. He got his first break while attending the New School when he met the legendary guitarist Jim Hall. Hall asked Peter to participate in his Invitational Concert as part of the 1990 JVC Jazz Festival. The event featured such guitarists as John Scofield and Pat Metheny and was released as "Live at Town Hall Vol. 2" by Music Masters. Hall noted that Peter " ...has paid attention to the past as well as the future. 


He is the most impressive guitarist I've heard. He plays the best of them all for swing, logic, feel and taste." Also in 1990, Peter Bernstein was discovered by alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson and took part in the first of four recordings with him. He was a regular member of his group throughout the 1990s. "Some people just have it." Donaldson said. " ...most of the time you have to teach someone what to do, but Peter knows it all." 
Peter has also enjoyed long musical associations with legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb (Cobb's Mob), as well as organist Larry Goldings and drummer Bill Stewart as a member of their highly acclaimed trio. The New York Times called them "the best organ trio of the last decade". Together they recorded a dozen of records. From 1995 through 1997, Peter was a member of Joshua Redman's band and played on Redman's Freedom in the Groove CD. He played with Diana Krall's quartet from 1999 through 2001 and with Dr. Lonnie Smith, the legendary organist who made his debut on the George Benson Cookbook albums. He has also recorded five CDs with organist Melvin Rhyne, known for his association with Wes Montgomery. In addition, Peter has appeared in groups led by Sonny Rollins, Bobby Hutcherson, George Coleman, David Fathead Newman, Etta Jones and Nicholas Payton.



Peter Bernstein about Jesse van Ruller: "I first met Jesse around 1995, after he won the Thelonious Monk competition. I got to play with him when I visited the school he taught at in Hilversum a few years later. I've been lucky enough to play some gigs with him over the years, some just duo, some as part of a concert with more guitar players. We did a little tour of Italy in 2018 as part of guitarist Rale Micic's tribute project to Jim Hall. Jesse has been one of my favorite players ever since I first heard him and it's always a pleasure and an inspiration to play with him."

show less