Sex Mob

Sex Mob began merely as a setting to feature the slide trumpet of leader <a href="spotify:artist:5pCNKFvPUY8L47ExfM4WLj">Steven Bernstein</a>, but has grown into a band with a much larger mission: to put the fun back in jazz music. After assembling the band (<a href="spotify:artist:5pCNKFvPUY8L47ExfM4WLj">Bernstein</a>, slide trumpet; <a href="spotify:artist:7dSqXiih3k39QlPFw2xYGK">Briggan Krauss</a>, alto sax; <a href="spotify:artist:6PGc4Sa3iL0Pii7jGS5p0P">Tony Scherr</a>, bass; <a href="spotify:artist:6Zn84vmI9vs51dH9UK52bV">Kenny Wollesen</a>, drums), Sex Mob began a residency at the Knitting Factory, playing predominantly originals written by <a href="spotify:artist:5pCNKFvPUY8L47ExfM4WLj">Bernstein</a>. During a special evening of film music, the crowd went crazy for the "James Bond Theme," and <a href="spotify:artist:5pCNKFvPUY8L47ExfM4WLj">Bernstein</a> realized that the audience was much more attuned to their playing when they recognized the tune. The band started to expand their songbook, but not to the same old tired jazz standards. Songs by <a href="spotify:artist:5a2EaR3hamoenG9rDuVn8j">Prince</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4TMHGUX5WI7OOm53PqSDAT">the Grateful Dead</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:22bE4uQ6baNwSHPVcDxLCe">the Rolling Stones</a>, and even the "Macarena" could find their way into a Sex Mob set, the only rule being that the song had to have such a strong melody that it could withstand serious deconstruction. <a href="spotify:artist:5pCNKFvPUY8L47ExfM4WLj">Bernstein</a> said in Jazz Asylum, "I realize that's what jazz musicians have always done. That's how <a href="spotify:artist:05E3NBxNMdnrPtxF9oraJm">Lester Young</a> got popular; it's how <a href="spotify:artist:4Ww5mwS7BWYjoZTUIrMHfC">Charlie Parker</a> got popular; it's how <a href="spotify:artist:0kbYTNQb4Pb1rPbbaF0pT4">Miles Davis</a> got popular; that's how <a href="spotify:artist:2hGh5VOeeqimQFxqXvfCUf">John Coltrane</a> got popular. They played the songs that everyone knew and because they could recognize the song, then that invited them into their style."

Word of mouth began to spread about their live shows, with <a href="spotify:artist:5pCNKFvPUY8L47ExfM4WLj">Bernstein</a>'s on-stage antics and the band's amazing musicianship as the focal points. <a href="spotify:artist:5pCNKFvPUY8L47ExfM4WLj">Bernstein</a> is one of the more active bandleaders out there, constantly dictating arrangements to the other musicians, and letting them have it when they don't deliver what he wants. They never rehearse and they never have a set list, which keeps things constantly fresh. Their weekly gigs eventually led to them being voted New York City's best band in 2000.

<a href="spotify:artist:5pCNKFvPUY8L47ExfM4WLj">Bernstein</a> summed up the Sex Mob ethos as such: "Jazz used to be popular music. People would go out to clubs, listen to the music, go home, and get laid. Simple as that. We're bringing that spirit back."

Sex Mob's 1998 debut, Din of Inequity, was the only release of a short-lived agreement between <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Knitting+Factory+Records%22">Knitting Factory Records</a> and Columbia Jazz. Augmented by two guitarists (<a href="spotify:artist:3RHGiicVEm5Clr70D2O5dt">Adam Levy</a> and London McDaniels) and keyboard powerhouse <a href="spotify:artist:46IQ7Q0jkW6dW0l4e15FFD">John Medeski</a>, Sex Mob romped through a program mostly of covers and a handful of <a href="spotify:artist:5pCNKFvPUY8L47ExfM4WLj">Bernstein</a> originals. 2000 saw the release of Solid Sender on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Knitting+Factory%22">Knitting Factory</a>, as well as the self-released Theatre & Dance. Solid Sender is another mix of covers (<a href="spotify:artist:6olE6TJLqED3rqDCT0FyPh">Nirvana</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:22bE4uQ6baNwSHPVcDxLCe">Rolling Stones</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0LcJLqbBmaGUft1e9Mm8HV">ABBA</a>) mixed with more <a href="spotify:artist:5pCNKFvPUY8L47ExfM4WLj">Bernstein</a> originals, some of which serve as short bridges between tunes. Solid Sender also uses a wider variety of guests, including <a href="spotify:artist:75GlHUh2Mr5IthCCRptIQV">DJ Logic</a> and a string trio featuring Charles Burnham. Theatre & Dance is split between <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Duke Ellington</a> compositions commissioned by choreographer <a href="spotify:artist:3ZUZYvTkSr7kJQyAXVpqaL">Donald Byrd</a> for a dance entitled In a Different Light: Duke Ellington, and <a href="spotify:artist:5pCNKFvPUY8L47ExfM4WLj">Bernstein</a> originals written for a revival of the 1926 <a href="spotify:artist:1aiPGAbZSHYGO0nyrpUnAU">Mae West</a> play Sex.

2001 brought a change in label, from <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Knitting+Factory%22">Knitting Factory</a> to <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Ropeadope%22">Ropeadope</a>, and an album with a less kaleidoscopic selection of songs. Sex Mob Does Bond has the Mob (again with <a href="spotify:artist:46IQ7Q0jkW6dW0l4e15FFD">John Medeski</a>) burning through the <a href="spotify:artist:7ctAOUlIAs7yuMODWE2Fyz">John Barry</a> songbook, covering a host of tunes written for the first five James Bond movies. For 2003's Dime Grind Palace, Sex Mob focused on <a href="spotify:artist:5pCNKFvPUY8L47ExfM4WLj">Bernstein</a> originals with a myriad guests including trombonist <a href="spotify:artist:6nCAbymHv2MRYV1sluCDr9">Roswell Rudd</a>. 2006's Sexotica on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Thirsty+Ear%22">Thirsty Ear</a> paid homage to the soundscapes of <a href="spotify:artist:3D9J9nPNW1cBktx5apJq4V">Martin Denny</a>. In 2009, the live album with pianist <a href="spotify:artist:46IQ7Q0jkW6dW0l4e15FFD">John Medeski</a> entitled Sex Mob Meets Medeski: Live in Willisau appeared. The group's next studio album, Cinema, Circus & Spaghetti: Sexmob Plays Fellini, appeared in early 2013. ~ Sean Westergaard, Rovi