EXPANDED BIOGRAPHY
Saxophonist Paul Hartsaw (1973) received his
formal studies in music and critical theory at Central
Michigan University and Western Michigan University
studying saxophone with John Nichol and Trent
Kynaston. While in college, Paul was the recipient of
numerous solo, sectional and ensemble awards from jazz
festivals at Notre Dame, Aquinas College, Detroit
Montreux, the International Association of Jazz
Educators (IAJE) Conference, and Down Beat Magazine's
Annual Student Music Awards as well as having the
opportunity to perform with such notable musicians as
Billy Hart, Mel Torme, Jon Faddis, John Pattitucci,
Louis Bellson, Marvin Stamm, and John Fedchock. Paul
also performed on the album Disposable Income with the
Western Michigan University Jazz Orchestra which
received a Grammy nomination.
Since moving to Chicago in 2000, Paul has performed both in the U.S. and
internationally collaborating with a who's who of the Chicago improvised
music scene both as a sideman and leader. Over the past 6 years Paul has
worked with Jim Baker, Josh Berman, Jeb Bishop, David Boykin, Nathaniel
Braddock, Bill Brimfield, Kyle Bruckmann, Jerome Bryerton, Tim Daisy,
Kevin Davis, Carol Genetti, Anton Hatwich, Keefe Jackson, Mike Reed, Dave
Rempis, Frank Rosaly, Karl E.H. Siegfried. Hartsaw has also worked and
recorded with composer Scott Rosenberg, performing in Rosenberg's Creative
Orchestra and Big Band which performed off-site at the 2002 Chicago Jazz
Festival.
Paul also participated in the multi-media
collaboration FEAR/FUN 2001, WORLD PEACE ART
INITIATIVE: BJERGSTED HEMI-FLORA 2002 Peace Sculpture
in Stavanger Norway and the STARR EARTHWORK 2002
collaborating on an original composition with New York
based composer/improvisor Clifton Hyde.
Paul's main focus lies in organizing the improvising
ensemble Desiring-Machines (1997-Present), an
experimental/free improvisation group and The Paul
Hartsaw Trio/Quartet/Tentet (2002-Present), focusing
on exploring the jazz idiom. The Paul Hartsaw Trio W/
Anton Hatwich and Frank Rosaly also had the honor of
performing at the 2003 Phrenology Festival of
Improvised Music organized by the Emerging Improvisers
Organization. In addition to these ensembles Paul
frequently performs in ad-hoc assemblages with various
improvisors throughout the city.
Ongoing associations also include the Astral-Terra Trapeze Unit led by
Kurt Hill Iselt, Keefe Jackson's 'Project Project', and 'Baltic Asteroids'
a Lithuanian/American jazz quintet which performed at the 2004 Birstonas
Jazz Festival in Birstonas Lithuania.