Peter Bernstein - Signs Live! (2017)

Signs LIVE! reunites the four master musicians who came together 20 years earlier to record the acclaimed Signs of Life, the second album by guitar-great Peter Bernstein. Recorded live at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the album captures the long-awaited live debut of Bernstein’s once-in-a-lifetime quartet featuring pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Gregory Hutchinson.

Bernstein’s second release for Smoke Sessions Records, Signs LIVE! (available July 28) allows audiences around the world to share the experience of the lucky few who were in the room for this summit meeting with four of modern jazz’s most revered artists. The two-disc set documents both sets of the quartet’s third and final night, with each soloist given the space to work out – an opportunity which each of these musicians seizes brilliantly.

When they originally came together to record Signs of Life for Criss Cross in December 1994, only the most psychic of jazz fans could realize the impact that the members of Bernstein’s quartet would end up having on the shape of the music over the next two decades. Mehldau had only recently formed his soon-to-be landmark trio, and had apprenticed alongside Bernstein in legendary drummer Jimmy Cobb’s band. McBride had garnered notice along with Mehldau in Joshua Redman’s quartet and had only a few months prior released his leader debut for Verve. Hutchinson was just beginning to make waves as a member of Roy Hargrove’s band.

TRACKLIST

CD1
01. Blues for Bulgaria (Live) (17:57)
02. Hidden Pockets (Live) (11:37)
03. Dragonfly (Live) (18:42)
04. Jive Coffee (Live) (19:03)
05. Pannonica (Live) ( 8:41)
06. Useless Metaphor (Live) (11:50)

CD2
01. Let Loose (Live) (15:23)
02. All Too Real (Live) (13:20)
03. Resplendor (Live) ( 8:42)
04. Crepuscule With Nellie - We See (Live) (14:34)
05. Ter Bernstein – Cupcake (Live) (13:45)