Karl Latham "Living standards"

Living Standards

with special guest Rachel Z

Karl Latham “Living Standards”

Karl Latham “Living Standards” first release is a culmination of both Latham’s protean imagination for transformative musical projects which unite sophisticated musicianship with themes that embrace a wider listenership. The group concept provides high level collective group playing, improvisation with rhythmic and harmonic adventure traveling in a vehicle of iconic popular music standards from the 60’s and 70’s: aka “Jazz for Everyone”. 

Modern Drummer Magazine "Living Standards"

Modern Drummer Magazine Review

“Living Standards”

Mike Dolbear Review

Living Standards (CD) – Karl Latham, Mark Egan & Vic Juris 

Featuring three incredible musicians and veterans of their instrument, ‘Living Standards’ is an 11 track compilation of some of the 20th centuries finest songs, but in a jazz fusion arrangement. 

Opening with a version of the Beetles classic ‘Day Tripper’, there is also a reworking of Princes’ Cinnamon Girl, as well as ‘Riders on the Storm’ from the Doors, finishing with the Cream Classic, ‘White Room’. 

I found some of the tracks were more instantly recognisable than others, which in some ways is rather nice; it’s not meant to be a straight cover of these songs after all, but a jazz fusion interpretation and I feel the band really delivered; not that you would expect any less! 

Not only was Karl playing the drums for this release but he is also credited as the producer, once again proving that drummers can have a lot more input than just hitting the skins. 

It’s a great release and if you’re into jazz/fusion music it’s one that’s well worth a look. 

Rob Crisp

 

KIOS “Last Call Best of 2016” 

KIOS-FM 

Last Call Best of 2016 

By Chris Cooke 

Last Call 

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1.THEO CROKER/ ESCAPE VELOCITY/OKEH RECORDS 
2.DONNY McCASLIN / BEYOND NOW / MOTEMA 
3.MATT WILSON’S BIG HAPPY FAMILY/ BEGINNING OF A MEMORY/PALMETTO 
4.METALWOOD/TWENTY/CELLAR LIVE RECORDS 
5.LOGAN RICHARDSON/SHIFT/BLUE NOTE 
6.PAT METHENY/THE UNITY SESSIONS/NONESUCH 
7.CUONG VU TRIO MEETS PAT METHENY/NONESUCH 
8.CHARLIE HUNTER/EVERYBODY HAS A PLAN UNTIL THEY GET PUNCHED IN THE              MOUTH/GROUND UP RECORDS 
9.WEATHER REPORT/THE LEGENDARY LIVE TAPES: 1978-1981/COLUMBIA-LEGACY 
10.JASON MILES / TO GROVER WITH LOVE / WHALING CITY SOUND 
11.WADADA LEO SMITH / AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS / CUNEIFORM 
12.THE DAVE LIEBMAN GROUP / EXPANSIONS LIVE / WHALING CITY SOUND 
13. PETER ERSKINE/DR. UM/FUZZY MUSIC 
14. ESPERANZA SPALDING/EMILY’S D +EVOLUTION/CONCORD 
15. KARL LATHAM / LIVING STANDARDS / DROPZONE JAZZ 
16. ALLISON MILLER’S BOOM TIC BOOM / OTIS WAS A POLAR BEAR / ROYAL POTATO FAMILY

Karl Latham: Living Standards – Jazz Guitar Life CD Review

If you’re aware of  powerhouse Jazz Drummer Karl Latham and wondering why he’s on Jazz Guitar Life? Well it’s simple. On Karl’s latest CD Living Standards, the guitar player featured is none other than the inimitable Vic Juris. Need I say more? Exactly! 

Similar in nature to Herbie Hancock’s The New Standard, Latham’s CD showcases iconic pop/rock tunes – standards if you will in their respective genres – re-interpreted through the Jazz lens’ of Drummer Latham, Bassist Mark Egan of Pat Metheny and Elements fame and of course, Jazz Guitarist Vic Juris. A dynamic group of players who seemingly have one foot in the Jazz World and one foot in the Rock/Pop World. It is because of this that the tunes re-invented still retain their original oomph but with a much more sophisticated harmonic palette offered to the more refined listener. 

Case in point is Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit”. This version finds Vic on acoustic steel string gently transforming the familiar Grace Slick melody into a hauntingly beautiful finger-picked out-pouring of notes alongside Egan’s soulful – almost crying – fretless slides. This same treatment can also be found on Pink Floyd’s “Us And Them” where Vic – cascading artificial harmonics and all – presents the melody in a most moody fashion. Egan’s fretless “skating” also helps to create a melancholy vibe along with Latham’s minimalist manoeuvres on the traps. A unique take which I was not expecting. In fact there are many such interpretations on this CD that I wasn’t expecting. 

For example, the group’s frenetic take on The Beatles’ “Day Tripper” reminded me of something that Bill Frisell would do. This tune definitely showcases Vic’s inventive improvisations as he dons the electric, slaps on some overdrive, and, when the time comes, wails in a Jazz/Rock fusion approach pulling out all the stops. He also delivers the same flat-out energy and intensity to – once again – The Beatles’ “Tax Man”. Of course, Latham’s muscular drumming and Egan’s dynamic bass lines add plenty of fuel to Vic’s fire. Egan also gets plenty of room to show off his chops in a most notable manner. 

The Neil Young tune “Cinnamon Girl” also brings out the best in all concerned with Vic and Egan delivering superb solos as only they can. Latham also gets to shine throughout the outro as Vic and Egan play the opening riff in an ostinato fashion. These guys can really…rock! 

And speaking of which, their treatment of the Blind Faith classic “Had To Cry Today” does exactly that…it rocks! Of course they personalize it with their distinctive voices allowing Vic to channel his inner Pat Martino through some overdriven guitar sounds that would make Clapton’s guitar gently weep! A great rendition as are their versions of “Low Rider” and the funkified “It’s Your Thing”. 

Contrasting the rock and funk is another Beatles’ tune “Tomorrow Never Knows” and The Doors’ “Riders on the Storm” which take a bit of an interpretive left turn as they venture down exploratory paths bordering on Free playing. Definitely an interesting musical perspective and one that I think both John and Jim would appreciate…especially in their more mind altered states! 

This brings me to the last cut on the CD, Cream’s “White Room”. Once again Vic takes out the acoustic steel string to re-envision the song his way. This sonic divergence and the way Vic phrases his lines, gives the tune a somewhat bluegrass feel before he delves into the improvisational passages where he bridges fleet fingered pentatonic lines with more advanced harmonic concepts. Both Egan and Latham give Vic plenty of room as they hold down the musical fort. A great tune to end the CD on! 

If you’re looking to hear some iconic rock tunes re-imagined, or you’re a fan of Vic or Mark or Karl individually or as a group, then I think this CD definitely needs to be checked out. After all each of those players ARE Living Standards and should be heard as well as seen!