
Karl Latham
Living Standards II
Drop Zone Jazz Records
Jazz standards are songs that are widely known and played by jazz musicians. Many of these songs originated as Tin Pan Alley pop songs, Broadway show tunes, or movie music. The standard is a song that most musicians know, so they are easy to throw together in a set for a group that hasn’t played together before. Jazz jam sessions are often based on standards that act as jumping off platforms for improvisation. I’m not really a fan of standards. How many times can you hear the same songs played more or less the same way?
Drummer Karl Latham seems to have a similar attitude toward the common jazz standards. His latest album, Living Standards II, seeks to expand the idea of standards to more recent compositions. The album features well-known songs from the rock canon by the likes of Buffalo Springfield, Eric Clapton, and the Doors. These songs are the common standards of the rock, open-mic scene, but they aren’t commonly played by jazz bands.
Latham leads an accomplished five-piece jazz fusion outfit. The set opens with a rendition of The Doors’ “Break On Through,” featuring guest vibraphonist Wolfgang Lackerschmid. The vibes give the song the appropriate spooky atmosphere. The band’s version of “Rock and Roll Woman” is light and breezy. “Magic Carpet Ride” is given a funky remake. I didn’t care much for the cover of “Layla” — the first half scooted along, playing the main riffs, and the transition to the coda is clunky and makes it feel like an entirely different song.
I like what Latham is doing here, expanding the canon of standards. One of the reasons standards remain popular is that it’s easy for the audience to connect with familiar tunes. Those Great American Songbook chestnuts aren’t as relatable as they once were.