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 last several years Paul has performed with Kristian Aspelin, Jim Baker, Josh Berman, Jeb Bishop, David Boykin, Nathaniel Braddock, Bill Brimfield, Kyle Bruckmann, Jerome Bryerton, Tim Daisy, Kevin Davis, Brahm Fetterman, Carol Genetti, Frank Gratkowski, Anton Hatwich, Keefe Jackson, Wibert De Joode, Tobias Kaemmerer, Scott Looney, Mike Reed, Dave Rempis, Frank Rosaly, Scott Rosenberg, Karl E.H. Siegfried, Damon Smith, Matt Ulery, Weasel Walter and William Winant among others.
Paul also participated in the multi-media collaborations 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/guitarist Clifton Hyde.
Paul's main focus lies in organizing the improvising ensemble Desiring-Machines (1997-Present), an experimental/free improvisation group, The Paul Hartsaw Trio/Quartet/Tentet (2002-Present), focusing on exploring the jazz idiom and the large ensemble, Socio-Cybernetic Music Machine (SCMM). 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.
