Steven Bernstein is an eclectic and prolific trumpeter, slide trumpeter, composer, and bandleader from the New York City "Downtown" music scene. Known for leading bands such as Sexmob and the Millennial Territory Orchestra (MTO), Bernstein fuses jazz, funk, rock, and blues, all while maintaining a deep respect for musical history. A musical chameleon, he is a sought-after arranger and sideman who has worked with a wildly diverse range of artists.
Influences and early career
Born in Berkeley, California, in 1961, Bernstein was immersed in a vibrant musical environment where mainstream and avant-garde jazz intermingled.
His early influences included Duke Ellington's trumpeters Rex Stewart and Cootie Williams, as well as innovators like Lester Bowie, Sam Rivers, and Ornette Coleman.
After moving to New York in the late 1970s, he became a fixture of the city's experimental jazz scene, eventually joining John Lurie's Lounge Lizards.
He is particularly known for his mastery of the slide trumpet, an instrument he credits with giving him the freedom to create a unique sound without comparison.
Key ensembles and stylistic diversity
Bernstein is the creative force behind several distinct projects that showcase his vast musical appetite.
Sexmob: This irreverent, Grammy-nominated cover band gained notoriety for its deconstructed and funky interpretations of pop and jazz standards, and for holding a long-running residency at the experimental venue Tonic.
Millennial Territory Orchestra (MTO): Inspired by early jazz and "territory" bands of the 1920s and '30s, Bernstein formed this large ensemble to explore traditional American music. The band blends historical reverence with audacious improvisation, covering a wide swath of artists from Duke Ellington to Sly Stone.
Butler, Bernstein & The Hot 9: A collaboration with New Orleans pianist Henry Butler, this group specialized in a lively and swinging blend of early jazz, blues, and boogie-woogie.
The Diaspora series: Through a series of albums on John Zorn's Tzadik label, Bernstein explored Jewish music, filtered through a modern jazz lens.
Arranger and collaborator
Bernstein's reputation as a gifted arranger has made him a versatile and in-demand collaborator across many genres.
Hal Willner projects: Bernstein collaborated for 25 years on legendary producer Hal Willner's genre-blending tribute projects. This included work on films like Robert Altman's Kansas City, the Leonard Cohen tribute I'm Your Man, and Lou Reed's Berlin.
Band and film work: He has contributed to film scores like Get Shorty as an arranger and composer, arranged for artists like Bill Frisell and Rufus Wainwright, and was a longtime member of Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble Band.
Musical partnerships: He has performed with a pantheon of artists from jazz giants like Roswell Rudd and Sam Rivers to rock and pop icons such as Lou Reed, Aretha Franklin, and Marianne Faithfull.