Biography
Steve Clarke
Born and raised in Bridgeport
Connecticut, Steve Clarke is from a musically inclined family. His father played
the trumpet along side the late greats Eddie and Bobby Buster from New Haven,
Connecticut during the 1950's and was president of the Musicians Union. His
oldest brother is a jazz saxophonist, and four of his other brothers played
brass instruments in school and marching bands.
Clarke began studying
music at an early age with lessons on the accordion at around age 10, aspiring
to be a drummer. A few years later he began playing the bass guitar after a
friend, Timmy Mallory introduced him to a few bass lines and Steve was in love.
After many days and nights of practicing, Steve began playing with local
bands at area clubs and later received his first big break after answering a
newspaper ad for a bass guitar player. Shortly thereafter, he found himself
picking up important experience and playing in the backing bands of the famous
R&B groups, The Drifters, The Coasters, Mary Wells, Ben E. King and Sam
& Dave.
Clarke studied music at the Housatonic Community College and
while there began playing bass for the Sonny Costanzo Big Band which later
became the house band at Quinnapiac College. The band featured such guest jazz
dignitaries as Randy Brecker, Clark Terry and Jimmy Heath.
Clarke, while
still working a full-time job and studing at HCC, he took private bass guitar
lessons with Brian Torff,Director of Music at Fairfield University. He studied
music theory, jazz improvisation and composition and also took piano lessons
with Jay Fredricks at The Westport Jazz Academy.
Shortly after
graduating from Housatonic Community College, Steve went on tour in Germany with
Laco Deczi's band "Celula New York" and re-toured Europe with them in 1998 right
into the present time. They tour every year in the spring and the fall to sold
out shows in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, and Austria.
In between
touring and playing locally Steve entered and graduated from The Institute of
Audio Research in New York, where he studied the business of music and recording
and upon graduation formed Q-UP Studios & Music Productions along with an
independent record label Hop-N-Bop Records.
In 1999, Steve made his
recording debut as a leader with KICKIN' IT, which he self produced and recorded
for his newly formed Hop-N-Bop record label. The CD featured Ken Gioffre (
Smokey Robinson, John Patitucci) on saxophone, Jonathan DuBose (Harry Connick
Jr, The Hawkins) and Rohn Lawrence (Boney James, Marion Meadows) on guitars as
well as other very talented artist.
The CD was well received by both
music journalists and critics alike and paved a path for additional producing
and arranging assignments with such artists as R&B singer Willie Randall,
and Charles Dukes along with Gospel singer Linda Johnsons debut CD "I Made A
Decision" which he wrote all the music for all 3CDs
Despite his
demanding schedule, Clarke found the time to perform with, open for and record
with such artist as Sherry Winston, Yellow Jackets, Theresa Wright Quartet,
Patxi, Tower of Power, George Baicea, Melvin Sparks, Pieces Of A Dream, Chris
Tolfield Band, Walter Duda, Francisco Molina, Phillip Maniatty, Willie Randall,
Charles Dukes, TNT Jazz Band, Greg Bernard, Greg James, Off Da Hook, and Laco
Deczis Celula New York Band.
Presently Steve is still touring with
Celula N.Y. which he has performed on 8 CD's
just recorded in Romania with
Romanian guitarist George Baicea whos CD was release in April 2005
performing with the three-time Grammy nominated jazz flautist Sherry Winston
has a tour with Chris Tolfield Band in Bulgaria and Romania for spring of
2005 ...
is working with his own band performing and getting ready for a new
CD release in Europe for Oct 2005.
In addition to his duties as a
professional bass-player for the past 25 years, Clarke continues to lend his
expertise as Bass Instructor at Fairfield Guitar Center, Director of jazz band
at M.A.C.H. and teaching bass privately.
Related Experience: Owner of
Project Studio "Q-Up Recording Studios" (1993-Present): currently producing,
arranging, and writing tracks for various artists.
Adjunct Professor :
Fairfield University Fairfield, CT Jan. 98- 2002
Bass Instructor :
Fairfield University Fairfield, CT 1995- 2002
Engineer/Producer : Q-Up
Studios Bridgeport, CT 1993- Present
Related Education: * Graduate of a
900 hour Recording Engineering and Production Program at The Institute of Audio
Research (96)
* Graduate of two 15-week extensive programs in Modern
Recording Techniques at Trod Nossel
Productions and Recording Studios
(certificates received May'93 and August '94)
* Graduate of Housatonic
Community College (Associates Degree in Music Theory, June 1989)
Deans
List 1986
* Private music lessons with instructor Brian Torff. Studied
music theory, jazz improvisation and composition (1986-1989)
* Private
lessons with Jay Fredrick's of The Westport Jazz Academy-Studied piano
(1984-1985)