Steve Clarke
Musician. Entertainer. Bandleader.
– Phil Nusbaum, KBEM
“Minneapolis sax man Steve Clarke has been a major musical figure for decades.”
Thank you for stopping by!
I am a musician, entertainer, and bandleader. I perform as an instrumentalist as well as a vocalist, and I also teach woodwinds to students of all ages. I love what I do!
I play saxophones (tenor, soprano, baritone, and alto); flutes (concert, alto, bass); bass clarinet, and wind controllers (Roland Aerophone and Yamaha WX7).
I run a couple of bands and am involved in a few musical projects: The Working Stiffs, Other Country Ensemble, Edmonds Station, and Louis & Clarke. Videos can be found on this site as well as on my YouTube channel. I also do solo performances weekly at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport by providing music for weary travelers.
I have 11 Minnesota Music Awards, 3 Grammy nominations, and 2 MN Nice awards from the MSP airport, and I have been inducted into the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame.
I wrote a song for my mother called “Joan’s Jump” in 1998, which can be found in the Library of Congress in the U.S. In 2000, my song became the most requested song on Swanktown Radio and can be heard on KBEM. I like to perform it at most of my Working Stiff shows.
I am endorsed by Antigua Winds.
Welcome
Bands and projects
“Steve Clarke and the Working Stiffs are one of the premier jazz and swing bands in the Twin Cities. They perform with passion, drive, and a sense of humor. The Working Stiffs were formed in 2001 as part of "Let Freedom Swing", a fundraiser for the families of the victims of 911. They have received 11 Minnesota Music Awards in categories of Jazz, Jazz Recording, and performance. Steve has 6 Minnesota Music Awards for Horn Player of the Year and was inducted into the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame.”
Steve Heckler
Twin Cities Jazz Festival
“Steve Clarke and the Working Stiffs play a clever blend of dance music from the 30’s to the 50’s. Led by Mr. Clarke’s soaring saxophone, The Working Stiffs have become a hit with the dance crowd of the Twin Cities thanks to their smart song selection and contagious musical enthusiasm. Each player in this top-notch ensemble was handpicked by Mr. Clarke to create a combo with explosive playing power. From Count Basie and Fats Waller to Elvis and Billie Holliday, and Louis Jordan to Bill Haley, the Working Stiffs cover the vast territory known as Classic American Pop with confidence and panache. The true test of our Fair is how well we please our customers. You made that job easy for us. I consider Steve Clarke and the Working Stiffs one of the best bands in Minnesota, indeed in the upper Midwest."
Nate Dungan
Minnesota State Fair
“Steve Clarke is an award-winning bandleader and wind player (saxophones and flutes). He has hundreds of performances and recordings with local, regional, and national artists including: John Scofield, Mitch Woods, Michael Bolton, Jeff Dayton and others. His band The Working Stiffs swing hard and hot, jammin’ and jivin’ their way right into your dancing shoes. Their jump blues and jazz bill, with some rowdy rockabilly thrown in for good measure, complemented by Steve’s golden saxophone is a favorite with dancers.”
TC Swing
Upcoming shows
"Just a note to tell you that Steve Clarke and the Working Stiffs were a big hit at our Sommerfest plaza event. Everyone here loved the energy quality and authenticity of your show and I’m sure we will be bringing the band back for a future event."
Reid McLean
Minnesota Orchestra
“Thanks again for your band's work at our annual party. You guys managed to capture the attention of what I think is a very difficult crowd. You even got them dancing, which is virtually a first from my experience of hosting hits events for 20 years. I hope we can count on you to come back next August.”
Scott Ellers Best and Flanagan
"It was a great pleasure having you and the Working Stiffs perform.
Understanding that our crowd may not be the typical audience, the show was fantastic, the students could not say enough about the band. The energy and show you provided for us was first class and we’re looking forward to working with you in the future."
Erich Martin
University of Minnesota
Edmonds Station is a place of rest, relaxation, and meditation performed by Steve Clarke on flutes and Laurie Knutson on Native American-style wood flutes and bass clarinet.
Other Country Ensemble performs folk music from around the world with an accent on music from the Northern Mediterranean Region.
A Working Stiff is slang for a person who works for a living, and that is what we do. We work by performing music for you from the 1920’s through the mid-1950s.