Steven Bernstein's Sexmob

Slide trumpeter Steven Bernstein brings his legendary avant-garde party band Sexmob to the Joe Henderson Lab for a four-night run featuring their special tribute Psychedelic SF, with guitarist Liberty Ellman joining the lineup. This final Sunday performance caps a residency celebrating 1960s Bay Area rock through Sexmob's signature lens of "explosive improvisation and wild reinterpretations."

For over two decades, Sexmob has built a cult following by taking familiar tunes and completely reimagining them through their unique blend of New Orleans funk, bebop, free jazz, and cartoon-like musical antics. Led by Bernstein's distinctive slide trumpet—an instrument that looks and sounds like a cross between trumpet and trombone—the band features alto saxophonist Briggan Krauss, bassist Tony Scherr, and drummer Kenny Wollesen, all virtuosic improvisers who share an infectious sense of fun.

Expect everything from James Bond themes to Thelonious Monk covers, contemporary pop melodies to completely improvised moments, all delivered with what critics call "boundless verve and enthusiasm." Reviews consistently highlight Bernstein's role as a "gracious and at times manic bandleader" who creates great rapport with audiences, while the band maintains a "hotbed of delirious, pulsating energy" on stage. Their performances balance infectious melodies with well-chosen blasts of dissonance, preventing any lapse into jazz formularity.

The Psychedelic SF concept promises to explore the experimental spirit of 1960s Bay Area rock through Sexmob's distinctive downtown NYC avant-garde filter. With Liberty Ellman's guitar adding new textures to their already eclectic sound palette, this tribute offers a rare chance to see how these "superstars of the New York avant-garde" interpret the psychedelic era that helped shape American music.

Part of the SFJAZZ Summer Sessions 2026, this intimate venue setting provides the perfect environment for experiencing what one reviewer called the band that "puts the fun back in jazz"—where serious musicianship meets irreverent humor, and audiences consistently leave smiling.