Collaborators of Laurie Anderson from the project “Let X = X” and leading figures of the New York downtown jazz scene return to Prague!

The quartet Sexmob was founded in 1996 by trumpeter Steven Bernstein together with saxophonist Briggan Krauss (John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Norah Jones, Butch Morris, Marc Ribot, Anohni, Medeski Martin & Wood, U2…), bassist Tony Scherr (John Scofield, Bill Frisell, The Lounge Lizards, Woody Herman, Chris Brown…) and drummer Kenny Wollesen (Tom Waits, Bill Frisell, Norah Jones, John Lurie, Myra Melford, Sean Lennon, New Klezmer Trio…). Their sets are typically filled with reinterpretations of well-known pop songs treated with humour and avant-garde boldness. Bernstein points out that this is in fact a return to the core jazz tradition – taking a familiar song, dismantling it and rebuilding it anew. Their unique interpretative approach was further highlighted when Sexmob served as Laurie Anderson’s touring band in 2023–2024, including a stop in Prague. The group also appears on her latest album Amelia (2024).

Bernstein grew up in California influenced by jazz legends such as Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon and Roland Kirk. From 1990 he performed with The Lounge Lizards and regularly appeared at the legendary Knitting Factory. A key turning point came when he discovered a rare slide trumpet in Woodstock, allowing continuous pitch bending similar to a trombone – a defining element of his unmistakable arrangements.

Bernstein deliberately avoids overplayed standards, choosing instead material by Prince, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones and iconic film themes from Fellini to James Bond. As an arranger and session musician he has collaborated with Antony and the Johnsons, Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Marianne Faithfull, Bill Frisell and Laurie Anderson. Alongside reinterpretations he has also released original albums Cultural Capital (2017) and The Hard Way (2023).

The event is organised by Rachot Production.