Sexmob

Since forming in the mid-1990s, Sexmob has been redefining jazz with raw energy, fearless improvisation, and an irreverent sense of fun. Emerging from New York’s Knitting Factory scene, the band, Steven Bernstein (slide trumpet), Briggan Krauss (saxophones), Tony Scherr (bass), and Kenny Wollesen (drums), has created a sound that’s instantly recognizable yet constantly evolving.

A Sexmob show has no setlist. Songs flow into each other with spontaneity, embracing the idea of “endless beginnings”a nod to Don Cherry’s musical philosophy. As NPR once said, “Sexmob is a collective ideal.”

Sexmob doesn’t just interpret songs, they transform them. Across albums like Din of Inequity, Sex Mob Does Bond, and Cultural Capital, they’ve reimagined the music of Prince, Ellington, ABBA, John Barry, Nirvana, and more, alongside Bernstein’s own originals. Their bold approach to form, structure, and arrangement has cemented them as one of the most inventive ensembles in modern jazz.

Their 2023 release, The Hard Way, produced by longtime collaborator Scotty Hard, fuses electronic textures with acoustic performance. Featuring guest appearances by Vijay Iyer and John Medeski, the album marks yet another adventurous step forward.

Bernstein’s wide-ranging work with artists like Lou Reed, Levon Helm, U2, Sam Rivers, and Hal Willner underscores the band’s far-reaching influence. Funky, soulful, and unpredictable, Sexmob continues to push the boundaries of what a jazz band can be while staying rooted in the tradition of transformation, groove, and surprise.