About
Two guitars, no compromise: Grammy-nominated Dan Wilson makes his Birdland Theater debut alongside the widely revered Peter Bernstein.
Two-guitar jazz quartets are rare because the instruments crowd each other, which is exactly why this pairing is interesting: Peter Bernstein is among the most respected guitarists of his generation, and Dan Wilson is a Grammy-nominated Mack Avenue artist who plays with gospel phrasing and enormous warmth. The Birdland Theater is the smaller downstairs room, so the interplay between the two is audible in a way it would not be upstairs. If you care about guitar, this is the weekend booking.
What to expect
The Theater is a compact basement room with tables tight to a low stage and a quieter feel than the main club above. The quartet works through originals and standards with the two guitarists trading and comping for each other rather than dueling. Expect around 75 minutes per set, a food and drink minimum, and an attentive musicians-heavy audience.
Good to know
- Birdland is on West 44th Street near Eighth Avenue; the A/C/E at 42nd Street is the nearest subway.
- Confirm you have booked the downstairs Theater rather than the main Jazz Club room.
- A food and drink minimum applies on top of the ticket at every set.
- The room is small, so book ahead rather than counting on walk-up availability.
- Sightlines are good throughout given the size, and bar seats are the value option.
- The earlier set works well before dinner elsewhere in the Theater District.
Common questions
Who is in the quartet?
Dan Wilson and Peter Bernstein on guitars, with Alex Claffy on bass and Jason Brown on drums.
Which room is this in?
The Birdland Theater, the smaller downstairs room, rather than the main Birdland Jazz Club upstairs.
What are the set times?
Sets run at 7pm and 9:30pm across the weekend stand.