A longtime institution on the experimental downtown scene of New York, Sex Mob spotlights the artful deconstruction of pop hits, jazz standards and soundtrack tunes by slide-trumpet player and bandleader Steven Berstein. Formed in 1995, the group features Bay Area expatriate and drum hero Kenny Wollenson (who has played extensively with the likes of Bill Frisell, John Zorn, and Tom Waits), bassist Tony Scherr and saxophonist Briggan Krauss.

Sex Mob's 1998 debut Din of Inequity  featured the quartet augmented by two guitarists (onetime Bay Area resident Adam Levy and London McDaniels) and keyboard powerhouse John Medeski in a romp through a program of covers with a handful of Bernstein originals. Since then, the group has collaborated with a variety of players including DJ Logic and a string trio featuring noted experimental violinist Charles Burnham. While Berstein has kept himself busy with a variety of projects including work with the late Band drummer and singer Levon Helm and Bernstein's own Millenial Territory Orchestra (which released an acclaimed tribute to Sly Stone last year), Sex Mob regularly brings its unique mix of music to enthusiastic audiences on both coasts.

The band hits the road to play songs from its forthcoming new sonic tribute to cinema, Cinema, Circus and Spaghetti (Sexmob Plays Fellini: The Music of Nino Rota), that's slated for release next month on the Royal Potato Family label. For the Thursday show at the Brick & Mortar Music Hall in San Francisco, the group is joined by the Deep Space Quartet and the Klaxon Mutant Allstars

Sex Mob

Wednesday, Feb. 20, 8 p.m. $15
Duende in Oakland

Thursday, Feb. 21, 8 p.m. $10-$13
Brick & Mortar Music Hall