In the jazz-rock fusion world, the great majority of recordings consist of original music, and occasionally electrified versions of a jazz standards might be included. In recent years, acoustic jazz musicians have increasingly been looking to the rock work for material to perform, which is probably only natural as the generations advance. This week, we have one of those fairly rare recordings, an album of fusion arrangements of rock tunes. It’s by drummer Karl Latham, and the his new album is called Living Standards II.

Karl Latham is a drummer based in Warwick, NY, who has worked with a long list of jazz artists over the years, including Claudio Roditi, Clark Terry and Paquito Rivera. He as also worked in the rock world with Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter and the Shirelles. So his background spans both genres. Like many musicians in the field, he is also active as a teacher, being on the faculty of Drew University, and community colleges is Morris County and Raritan.

In 2012, Latham created the first Living Standards album with a trio including the late guitarist Vic Juris and bassist Mark Egan. It featured compositions by the Beatles, the Doors, Neil Young and Cream, among others.

Now after a dozen years, Latham has come up with Living Standards II with a larger ensemble, a quintet, which again features bassist Mark Egan, along with guitarist Mitch Stein, keyboard man Henry Hey, and percussionist Roger Squitero. Also appearing on some of the tracks is vibist Wolfgang Lackerschmid. The material on Living Standards II is again mainly from the 1960s and 1970s, with tunes by the Doors, Crosby, Stills and Nash, King Crimson, Steppenwolf, Led Zeppelin, and the Buffalo Springfield. Latham says that he set out to preserve the original melodies and chord changes of the tunes. The band then does its arrangements, sometimes taking things at a different tempo or rhythmic groove, and obviously providing the instrumental colors instead of the vocals of the original versions. The group keeps things pretty electric throughout, and each of the members gets chance to get a place in the instrumental spotlight at one point or another on the album. Though Latham is the leader, the arrangements are not drummer-centric.

Opening is the tune by the Doors, a band that Latham covered on the last Living Standards album. In this case it’s Break On Through to the Other Side. Latham and band give it an often-atmospheric groove. Vibist Wolfgang Lackerschmid adds a nice texture, to Mitch Stein’s sometimes angular-sounding guitar. <<>>

The first of the Stephen Stills compositions on the album is Rock and Roll Woman originally recorded with the Buffalo Springfield. Latham’s approach is definitely rock and roll in its direction, with Mitch Stein providing a bluesy texture to his guitar work on the track. <<>>

The Led Zeppelin tune they cover is What Is And What Should Never Be which is given a slower, more laid-back approach. <<>>

Probably the most interesting arrangement on the album is Latham and company’s take on the Eric Clapton classic Layla. The group takes it as a fast swing jazz arrangement <<>> until the slow part comes along, at which keyboard man Henry Hay turns it into a contemplative-sounding piano ballad. <<>>

Of the compositions on the album, perhaps the least obvious is King Crimson’s Matte Kudesai. The tune is slow and somewhat atmospheric on its original version. That feel is kept on this treatment, and the band does a nice job. <<>> Mark Egan’s bass gets a prominent solo spotlight. <<>>

The Steppenwolf classic Magic Carpet Ride is given a kind of New Orleans beat, while still keeping the rock texture with Stein’s guitar work. It’s another nice piece of arranging. <<>>

The album ends with a two part version of the Crosby, Still and Nash tune Carry On. The band alternates between the tune’s melodic line and some of the most adventurous solos on the album. <<>>

In a kind of tribute to the era of the original version of the tune, Latham and band get all psychedelic in the second part of Carry On.

Karl Latham’s new album Living Standards II follows up on a previous album from 12 years ago, which was then a trio. Living Standards II brings in a larger group, and the arrangements are more wide ranging. Latham and company stuck to Baby Boomer rock for the cover s on which he drew, and took pains not to alter the music too much. But the more creative rhythmic grooves the instrumental colors makes for satisfying listening for those who may be fans of fusion and for those attracted to the classic tunes on the album.

Our grade for sound quality is close to an “A.” The mix has everything in the right place, there is good clarity, and the dynamic range, while not stellar, is a cut above most recordings these days.

There are different ways of doing cover tunes, from trying to clone the original, like the numerous tribute bands on the scene, to taking the music to a completely different realm stylistically. Karl Latham has come up with an intelligent compromise, keeping the melodies while exhibiting musical creativity.

(c) Copyright 2024 George D. Graham. All rights reserved.
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