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

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.

As a freelance performer, Karl has performed with a wide spectrum of notable artists such as Mark Egan; The Fantasy Band (Dave Valentine; Dave Samuels; Chuck Loeb); The Shirelles; Claudio Roditi; Clark Terry; Hendrik Meurkins; Don Braden; the John Lee Quartet; Andy Snitzer; Amit Chatterjee; The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars; Joe Lovano; Bob Malach: Ed Cherry; Tomoko Ohno; Cyrus Chestnut; Johannes Enders; Jon Faddis; Rudi Engle; Torsten de Winkel; Nick Rolfe; Antonio Hart; Slide Hampton; Edgar Winter; Johnny Winter; Michal Urbaniak; Jeff Ciampa; Roy Assay; Yotam Silberstein; Michael Dease; Sherril Cassidy; Zachai Curtis; Dezron Douglas; The Dalton Gang among many others.

John Lee, bassist and director of the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars, says that "Karl's greatest strength is in his versatility. In this respect, he is something of a phenomenon, having mastered every style of music he has attempted to play."

Karl has toured Europe extensively since 1993 in many of Wolfgang Lackerschmid's groups along with John Lee, Cameron Brown, Belden Bullock, Georg Wadenius, Ed Cherry, Michal Urbaniak, Attila Zoller, Randy Brecker and numerous other musicians.

Reknowned bassist Kermit Driscoll and Karl joined with Freiburg, Germany based composer/pianist, Johannes Mossinger in 2001. Karl has appeared on dozens of tours, as well as, 6 recordings with the group along with guest artists Joe Lovano, Bob Malach, Boris Kozlov, Seamus Blake and Don Braden. The most recent release is the 2009 IN and Out Records release "The Jersey Session" with Seamus Blake and Boris Kozlov.

Karl performs in the NY area with Unit One with Mark Egan and John Hart "Whenever crack drummer Karl Latham, Grammy-winning bassist Mark Egan, 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." - Zan Stewart Star-Ledger . "A threesome with a wealth of approaches, guitarist John Hart, bassist Mark Egan and drummer Karl Latham have an engaging take on jazz. Armed with wide-ranging experiences ...the gents like to stretch things, adding rock flavor here, some avant-garde leaning thoughts there, all while swinging distinctively." - Zan Stewart Star-Ledger

Karl is currently featured on a new project Big Fun(K!), along with Don Braden, Nick Rolfe and Gary Foote.

Karl has released two solo CD's to date, "Dancing Spirits" (1999) “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 and "Resonance" 2007 (#4 Top Added CMJ Jazz). On "Resonance", Karl joins forces with guitarist JOHN HART, bassist KERMIT DRISCOLL, and trumpeter VINNIE CUTRO. "A drummer with zest and explosiveness who can also keep solid, steady time, Karl Latham makes music move. A fine example is his just-out "Resonance" DropzoneJazz CD, which sports bust-out versions of hendrix's "Spanish Castle Magic" and Monk's "Bemsha Swing"". Zan Stewart of the Star-Ledger 2007

Karl recieved a B.S.S. from Ohio University and studied music performance at Rutgers University, Ohio University and Berklee College of Music. Karl's formal musical training includes private lessons with renowned educators Gary Chester, Freddy Waits, Michael Carvin, Joe Morello, Joe Cusatis and Muzzy Mizzioni. While in college, Karl won second place in the 1983 Carmine Appice National Drum Battle.

Since the early 90's Karl has been a "Trans-Atlantic" performer spending a great deal of time annually in Europe with his primary residence in the northwest New Jerey area. Karl is an Adjunct Professor at Passaic County Community College and County College of Morris. Karl teaches privately as well both in NJ and abroad.

Karl is a proud endorsee for Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Future Sonics and Factory Metal Percussion