Paul Kartanowicz is a graduate of Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey. Currently, he resides in NJ where he is an active performer, studio musician, music educator, and vintage restoration specialist. He has performed and recorded with Nigel Lewis (The Meteors, Tall Boys), The Tombstone Brawlers, Paul "Choppy" Diffin (The Caravans), The Bristles (with Paul Decolator), The Bitter Hearts, Blue 82, and 1987. Paul has toured in Europe, and throughout America, including Hawaii. In 2004 he became the Percussion Director of the prestigious Haworth School's music program, located in Haworth , NJ. Paul is the house drummer for Montclair NJ's "Park St. Jazz Workshop", a weekly jazz jam session, and has been the drummer for The Vince Villanueva Jazz Trio since 2006.
Born in New York City, Paul first began playing drums at age nine and began performing professionally in the late '90's while in high school with his bands, Hybrid and Sector 12. His drumming has been the focus of many domestic and international articles including N.J.'s Star Ledger (April '99), The Aquarian (August '98) as well as several German and Belgian newspapers which covered his winter 2004 European tour.
While attending Rutgers University as a music major, he studied percussion with Newman Taylor Baker (The Billy Harper Quintet, McCoy Tyner, Henry Grimes Trio) and jazz performance with Author/Composer Dr. William R. Bauer and Saxophonist Leo Johnson . Paul also performed in “Mosaic”, the official Rutgers Jazz Ensemble. Additional lessons were provided by the legendary Latin Jazz percussionist , Steve Berrios (Ft. Apache Jazz Band), Greg Bufford , and Eli Fountain (percussionist in Max Roach's M'Boom band).
Paul has been a member of several successful bands, most noteworthy being rockabilly legends, The Tombstone Brawlers (2003-2007), who he released 2 CD's with. His recordings with this group also appeared on several independent film soundtracks. The band did a tour of Europe in 2004, and headlined a highly attended west coast festival in LA. In 2005 Paul performed and recorded with Nigel Lewis (The Meteors, Tall Boys) in his only U.S. appearance to date.
Paul can be seen regularly performing thoughout the NYC metro area with jazz and rockabilly bands, on tour, performing at international music festivals and charity benefits or in the studio or class room as a music educator.
