Karl Latham

Karl Latham

Musicians | Instrument: Drums | Location: New York City

Karl Latham is an inventive powerhouse whose influences are many but whose ideas are his own.
—Jeff Tamarkin Allmusic.com

Updated: October 31, 2023

Born: June 9, 1961

Karl Latham was born into a musical family in Trenton, New Jersey. Karl's mother for a short period, was a local radio singer (briefly managed by the great Ernie Kovacs). Karl's first drumming influence was his brother Rich (not Rick Latham) who was a drummer in his teens. Rich generously allowed his much younger brother to play on his first Slingerland kit.

Karl's family moved to to rural Northwest New Jersey, After seeing his first live concert "Chicago" in Asbury Park, NJ; Karl became serious about drumming in middle school, taking his first private lessons with a local drummer. That drummer immediately referred Karl to the expert teacher in Northwest New Jersey Vincent "Muzzy" Mizzoni in Denville, NJ. It was there Karl met a young Vic Juris was teaching guitar lessons.

Karl studied with "Muzzy" for 3 years, under Muzzy's tutelage he took 1st Place in the Countywide, Area, Region I and placed in the New Jersey All-State Band/Wind Ensembles and Orchestras, as both a classical snare drummer and tympanist.

Karl went on to study with Joe Cusatis his senior year in high school at the Modern Drum Shop in New York, his first experience with "big city" drummers.

Karl was very influenced by all the music his brother's band played locally: Chicago, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Johnny and Edgar Winter (his brother opened for them), but it was a NYC radio station WRVR that he could barely receive that became his main influence.  WRVR played an eclectic list of jazz, latin, latin jazz, fusion, and funk jazz.  An equal treatment and respect for all forms of music was developed from the amazing repertoire WRVR played with equanimity.  

Karl became a huge fan of Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra and CTI Records), Steve Gadd, Peter Erskine, Narada, Rick Marotta, Jeff Porcaro, Jack DeJohnette, Gerry Brown, Ndugu, Alphonse Mouzon, Jon Christensen, Ed Blackwell and Steve Jordan.

Once Karl discovered ECM Records, this opened a whole pantheon of new music, which is still influencing Karl's playing. 

Deciding to stay in the New York area, Karl attended Rutgers University to explore both jazz and classical music. Karl studied with the great Freddie Waits, but  was primarily a tympanist at this time.  Even though Karl was very passionate about classical music, he choose to leave Rutgers and attend Berklee College of Music. 

Karl thrived at Berklee College of Music (by his second semester he was the highest "rated" drummer in his class), playing in 7 different ensembles. Karl studied with Joe Hunt and privately Gary Chaffee. Karl made life long friendships with Jeff Watts, John March,  Barry Danielian, Jody Espina, Rick Beligni and dozens of other folks. Berklee is as it was a boiling pot of amazing talents exploring every possibility of music.

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13
Album Review

Alex Collins/Ryan Berg/Karl Latham: Together

Read "Together" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Together—what a splendid title for a piano-led trio whose members work hand-in-glove from start to finish on an album whose music may seem familiar but is approached from various garden-fresh angles and avenues by pianist Alex Collins, bassist Ryan Berg and drummer Karl Latham, who always keep the keynotes ingenious and engaging. Collins, the melodic ringmaster, is an adventurous yet tasteful machine-gunner, spraying notes and phrases with the technical mastery of an Oscar Peterson, while Berg and Latham are ever-ready ...

10
Album Review

Karl Latham / Ryan Carniaux / Mark Egan: Constellations

Read "Constellations" reviewed by Fiona Ord-Shrimpton


If you happened to be in vitro fed Isao Tomita during your pre-personage, you're going to recognise Karl Latham's Constellations electronica subliminally--regardless any jazz/Bjork connections. 70's Japanese synth/horn, space music trembling has that tendency to unhinge a certain primeval magic. Space music in the 21st Century has less artefacts than the 70s first steppers, and more of the technician's space time feel of Miles Davis' electric purview. Karl Latham suggests that fundamentally there is an air of Miles ...

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3

Recording

Karl Latham, Ryan Carniaux and Mark Egan release "Constellations"

Karl Latham, Ryan Carniaux and Mark Egan release "Constellations"

Source: Michael Ricci

Constellations is the debut recording from Karl Latham, Ryan Carniaux and Mark Egan with special guest Nick Rolfe featuring their creative interpretations of the music from Icelandic pop star Bjork. On this 74+ minute highly adventurous improvisational outing the group draws from a wide palette of influences ranging from Miles Davis's Live-Evil and Bitches Brew to open ended impressionistic variations. The Icelandic singer Bjork has created her own universe with her music and performances that are both exciting and original, ...

Recording

Unit 1 with Mark Egan, Karl Latham and John Hart Release "Unit 1"

Unit 1 with Mark Egan, Karl Latham and John Hart Release "Unit 1"

Source: Powderfinger Promotions

Wavetone Records is proud to present the self-titled debut release for jazz-funk power trio Unit 1, featuring Grammy Award-winning bassist Mark Egan, multi- dimensional drummer Karl Latham, and jazz guitar giant John Hart. Mark Egan has a unique fretless bass sound and style that is both distinctive and versatile, making him one of the most in-demand electric bassists in music today. Egan has recorded and toured with the likes of the Pat Metheny Group, Sting, Roger Daltry, Stan Getz, and ...

17

Recording

Don Braden And Karl Latham Release "Big Fun(k) Live"

Don Braden And Karl Latham Release "Big Fun(k) Live"

Source: Powderfinger Promotions

Big Fun(k) Live is a mosaic of different musical influences and styles led by tenor saxophone all-star Don Braden and internationally-known percussionist Karl Latham. Having worked with legends such as Wynton Marsalis, Johnny Winter, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Haynes, Tony Williams and Bill Cosby, both Braden and Latham are masters at creatively and passionately expressing themselves in any genre they choose. In fact, Braden is known primarily in the modern Jazz world, but revisits his roots (he cut his teeth playing ...

86

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Karl Latham

Jazz Musician of the Day: Karl Latham

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Karl Latham's birthday today!

JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Karl Latham

Karl Latham was born in Trenton, New Jersey and grew up in a musical family. Inspired by his brother Rick, (no relation to the Rick Latham), Karl started playing the drums at the age of 7... more

Website | Photos | Articles

Follow Karl Latham

Put AAJ's Musician of the Day box on your ...

211

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Karl Latham

Jazz Musician of the Day: Karl Latham

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Karl Latham's birthday today!

JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Karl Latham

Karl Latham was born in Trenton, New Jersey and grew up in a musical family. Inspired by his brother Rick, (no relation to the Rick Latham), Karl started playing the drums at the age of 7... more

Website | Videos | Articles

Follow Karl Latham @ AAJ

Put AAJ's Musician of the Day box ...

100

Recording

Drummer Karl Latham Releases "Resonance"

Drummer Karl Latham Releases "Resonance"

Source: All About Jazz

"Karl Latham leads the band through all kinds of musical terrain with a playful, musical touch, from the elaborate shading to the sparse, funky backbeats. Latham likes playing inside and out, and his band follows suit nicely." - Robin Tolleson, Modern Drummer KARL LATHAM is a NY-based and internationally recognized drummer. He is known for his exceptional ability to dig into a variety of musical styles, playing straight-ahead jazz, avant-garde, funk, rock, Latin, and more. John Lee, bassist and director ...

125

Recording

Drummer Karl Latham Releases "Resonance" - Free Download at AAJ!

Drummer Karl Latham Releases "Resonance" - Free Download at AAJ!

Source: All About Jazz

Drummer Karl Latham is a classic Gemini who has performed around the globe in almost every musical genre imaginable; with jazz masters Claudio Roditi, John Lee, Slide Hampton, Jon Faddis and Clark Terry, modern jazz masters Mark Egan, Michal Urbaniak and Don Braden, rockers Johnny Winter and Edgar Winter, as well as, European jazz artists Wolfgang Lackerschmid, Hendrik Meurkens and Johannes Mssinger.

FREE MP3 Download of “Higher Ground"

Resonance, Latham's second solo release, encompasses his diverse experiences culminating in a ...

"Karl Latham is an inventive powerhouse whose influences are many but whose ideas are his own." Jeff Tamarkin Allmusic.com "Latham is an unshakable catalyst." Owen Cordie JazzTimes "Karl Latham is the only one I never caught live, but now I know that I need to do it urgently. Listening to him on "Unit 1" gave me the same goosebumps I felt when I first heard Chris Dave with Bob Hurst a couple of years ago, and Steve Gadd with Joe Farrell four decades ago." Arnaldo DeSouteiro JazzStation Paul Sakion JazzImprov NY Magazine “Karl Latham is well known for his interest in and talent for many styles of music

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Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Adjunct Instructor Drew University 2016 - present Passaic County Community College 2001-present County College of Morris 2004-present Private Instructor 1984-present Workshops and clinics U.S and Europe Artist/Clinician Yamaha Drums/Paiste Cymbals/Innovative Percussion

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All About Jazz user Karl Latham All About Jazz user Michael Ricci

Wanderlust

From: Constellations
By Karl Latham

Higher Ground

From: Resonance
By Karl Latham