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 Mössinger.
“Resonance”, Latham’s second solo release, encompasses his diverse experiences culminating in a full spectrum jazz/rock/jam sonic experience. “Resonance” features original compositions and intriguing arrangements, from burning Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Wonder classics to a haunting arrangement of Bjork’s “Pagan Poetry”.“Protean drummer Karl Latham likes to dig into a variety of styles, playing straight-ahead jazz, more avant-garde, funk, rock, Latin and more with gusto”,“Whenever crack drummer Karl Latham … and far-ranging guitarist John Hart hit the bandstand, musical sparks are a given. The players like to roam from jazz to jazz-drenched rock, shifting their sounds and rhythms as they go” says Zan Stewart of the Newark Star Ledger.
A hard grooving Afro 6/8 arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” sets the mood for the CD listening experience. Trumpeter Vinny Cutro (Horace Silver, Spirit of Life) digs into the melody in a Woody Shaw tradition and plunges straight into one of the CD’s many sizzling solos over guitarist John Hart’s perpetually swinging accompaniment. Bassist Kermit Driscoll (Bill Frisell, John Zorn, Ben Monder) propels the ensemble forward at every opportunity.
“Manic Depression” is a take no prisoners, post-bop, soaring tempo burner with Latham displaying unflinching technical prowess and Jack DeJohnette influences, resulting in a relentlessly swinging performance. John Hart’s “Tadpole” is a playful groovy piece set in a hip hop meets “Nawlins” style reminiscent of John Scofield. A rocking jazz Cha Cha arrangement of “Spanish Castle Magic” provides the strongest track on the CD. Soaring solos by Cutro and Hart (displaying some early John McLaughlin influences) are followed by Latham, who solos while the ensemble reiterates the theme.
“Pagan Poetry”, is an atmospheric mood piece set in the haunting writing of Bjork. Influences from Nils Petter Molvaer and Jan Garbarek are present in Cutro’s singing of the melody and the ensemble follows in a meditative manner. Other key tracks on “Resonance” include a drum and bass arrangement of Monk’s “Bemsha Swing” and a partido alto/samba version of Stevie Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise”.
