Steve Kulas

Steve Kulas is an accomplished, traditional jazz and dixieland drummer primarily based out of the Winona, Minnesota and La Crosse, Wisconsin music scenes.

He is widely regarded by regional musicians as a "drummer extraordinaire" who is frequently sought after to anchor various rhythm sections and musical ensembles in the Upper Midwest.

Principal Music Projects

• The Gate City Jazz Band: Steve Kulas serves as the core drummer for this long-standing Dixieland jazz ensemble. Originally formed in 1978 in Winona, MN, the group delivers high-energy traditional New Orleans jazz. He performs alongside regional musicians like Ken Bloom (trombone), Dr. Dan Barr (piano), and vocalist Margaret Cassidy, playing music popularized by icons like Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke. You can track their appearances via regional updates on the Gate City Jazz Band Facebook Feature or follow their regular music schedules on the Winona Post Entertainment News.

• Swing, Inc.: Kulas has historically provided the swinging, steady timekeeping for this classic jazz combo, featuring heavily on regional live gigs and recordings like Dancing on the Ceiling.

• The H3O Jazz Trio (Collaborations): He frequently appears as a prominent guest drummer for local community jazz jams, such as the monthly River Arts Alliance events alongside the Eric Heukeshoven-led H3O Jazz Trio.

• Theater Orchestra Work: Beyond pure jazz ensembles, he lend his precise percussion work to local musical theater pit orchestras, including productions like 9 to 5 The Musical and Songs for a New World hosted by the Saint Mary's University Music Department.