Karl Latham - 2025 - Living Standards II

(56:46; Drop Zone Jazz Records)






















In 2016, drummer Karl Latham, along with bassist Mark Egan and the late guitarist Vic Juris, recorded ‘Living Standards’ which took 11 rock classics and transformed them into jazz. Now we have the follow-up, with a expanded band which again includes bassist Egan along with guitarist Mitch Stein, keyboardist Henry Hey, percussionist Roger Squitero and vibraphonist Wolfgang Lackerschmid. It is a somewhat eclectic selection, as we have The Doors (“Break On Through To The Other Side”), Buffalo Springfield (“RockAnd Roll Woman”), Led Zeppelin (“What Is And What Should Never Be”), Eric Clapton ( “Layla”), King Crimson (“Matte Kudasai), a great song but surely slightly out of keeping with the rest,  Steppenwolf (“Magic Carpet Ride”) and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (the two part “Carry On”).

What is good about this set is that unlike some others where the vocals have been played by an instrument (often guitar), and nothing else has been changed in the arrangement, what we have here are interesting adaptations which while guitar-led are definitely taking the original as a base and attempting to move the needle in a different direction. “Magic Carpet Ride” is one of those which works particularly well in this context, keeping the playfulness of the original but making it far funkier and lighter. “Layla” is surely one of the most covered songs out there, but a new drum solo introduction leads into a high tempo version where the key instrument is probably the running bass underneath the guitar which is dramatic and all-encompassing. I am mostly not a huge fan of this style of album, but this one has some string merits and is worth hearing. 

Kev Rowland, August 2025

Links:
https://karllatham.com/

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