Bartkowski Czesław “Mały,” *19 April 1943 Łódź, Polish jazz percussionist. He studied drums at the State Secondary Music School in Wrocław. He made his debut in J. Pakulski’s Far Quartet in 1960. Later, he became a member of Z. Namysłowski’s group in 1963, with which he toured Europe, made many recordings (including the album Lola, Decca, 1964) and performed for the first time at the Jazz Jamboree. In 1963–65, he played with K. Komeda’s band (the album Jazz Greetings from the East). He won the 3rd prize in the F. Gulda Competition in Vienna in 1966. In 1969, together with Z. Namysłowski, A. Makowicz and the vocal group Novi Singers, he gave concerts in New Zealand, Australia, and in 1970 in India. He was a member of the following bands: Cz. Niemen (albums: Enigmatic, 1970; Niemen, 1971), M. Urbaniak (Constellation in Concert, 1973), Z. Namysłowski (Zbigniew Namysłowski Quartet, 1966; Kuyaviak goes funky, 1975; Follow Namysłowski, 1982) and T. Stańko and A. Makowicz (Unit, 1975). He also collaborated with J.P. Wróblewski’s Mainstream group, the Polish Radio Jazz Studio (Sellers of Algae, 1973), W. Karolak (Easy, 1974), T. Szukalski (Time Killers, 1985), M. Bliziński (Wave, 1980), S. Kulpowicz and S. Sojka. He recorded his own album Drums Dream in 1976. On stage, he met with American musicians – F. Hubbard, A. Farmer and B. Webster. Bartkowski is still active, playing in various formations, including a trio with A. Jagodziński (i.a. the album Chopin, 1994). He is considered one of the best and most versatile drummers in the history of Polish jazz. He was a multiple winner of the Jazz Forum monthly poll in the category of drummer of the year. Since 1992, he has been a lecturer in the Jazz Section at the F. Chopin State Music School Complex in Warsaw.
