Peter Bernstein Quartet 'What Comes Next'

“Without the question mark, What Comes Next implies that you have some idea, some intention,” Bernstein explains. “That seems like such a huge concept now, but it’s inherent to the very idea of playing jazz. It’s the basic question that we deal with all the time when we’re given the freedom to improvise: now what do I play? What note should come next? Where are we in the conversation? With everybody’s lives being put on hold, that idea can be extended beyond the fact of just playing music.” The timing was especially fortuitous as three months of isolation had given Bernstein plenty of opportunity to compose some new music. With tour schedules and conflicting dates hardly being an issue, Bernstein assembled a dream quartet for the date. He’s joined by Grammy-winning pianist Sullivan Fortner (Cécile McLorin Salvant, Roy Hargrove), drummer and frequent collaborator Joe Farnsworth (McCoy Tyner, Pharoah Sanders) and for the first time on one of the guitarist’s own sessions by the always exquisite bassist Peter Washington (Bill Charlap, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers). “We all kept our masks on,” Bernstein recalls, “It felt a little strange at first, but I'm just thankful for the chance to try and create something with musicians I love. It was such a beautiful day.”