Steve Bulmer is a multi-dimensional musician actively performing and recording on upright bass, electric bass and tuba. Steve is the Instructor of bass (classical, jazz, upright bass and bass guitar) at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT where he is also director of all UConn Jazz Combos.
A native New Englander from Connecticut, Steve enjoys a very active career that spans many musical idioms including jazz, classical, musical theater and pop/rock. Initiated on piano at age 6, his music journey sent him acoustically lower and lower as he was drawn to the inspirational role the bass plays both rhythmically and harmonically in all type of musical idioms.
Steve was formally trained at the Eastman School of Music where he received a bachelor’s degree in both Music Education and Music Performance. He subsequently headed west and he received a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University studying with the famous pedagogue and Chicago Symphony Orchestra tubist Arnold Jacobs. Steve was instructor of low brass at University of CT and also pursued studying and playing the upright and electric basses do diversify his musical persona.
Steve performs extensively with regional and national musicians in many settings. He has performed on Broadway in productions of Chicago (the Musical) and Parade! at Lincoln Center doubling on upright bass and tuba. He is first call in the region when national touring shows hire area musicians, and has played in such productions as If/Then, Beautiful – The Carol King Story, Spamalot, Pippin, Mary Poppins, Evita!, The Addams Family, Billy Eliot, Victor/Victoria, and Young Frankenstein and has backed such talents as Mel Tormé, Ray Charles, The Three Irish Tenors, and Josh Groban.
Steve performs with Connecticut-based symphony orchestras including those in Wallingford, Ridgefield, Waterbury and also the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra. He also plays tuba and arranges for the Constitution Brass Quintet and has enjoyed re-arranging Widor and Vierne symphonic organ classics for brass quintet.
Steve is active as a jazz bassist performing throughout New England with many regional artists and ensembles including performances with Phil Woods, John Abercrombie, Ali Ryerson, Kendra Shank, Nick Brignola, Tom Malone, Lou Marini, Matt Parker, Anton Kot, and vocalese artist Giacomo Gates.
Steve leads his own quintet, The Hall Monitors, comprised of the area’s finest players and passionate educators. He also performs regularly with Sarah Clay and the StarCats where he arranges a variety of songs for this group.
He is bassist and president of the New England Jazz Ensemble, a non-profit 16-piece jazz orchestra that commissions and performs new works with an educational mission. Steve produced the NEJE’s Peter and the Wolf project, a recording including a Jazz Ensemble version of Prokofiev’s classic tale augmented with four original works inspired by the classical themes. The album was released in April 2018 and has garnered considerable critical acclaim.
Steve has also been the Secretary and a Board member of the Hartford Jazz Society since 2018.
