Karl Latham group is coming to Sparta

SPARTA-Internationally-renowned drummer Karl Latham will be performing a benefit concert as part of the 2005 Sparta Summer Concerts Season on Friday, July 8, 7:30 p.m. at Dykstra Park. Latham has performed and recorded with artists such as Slide Hampton, The Fantasy Band (Dave Samuels, Chuck Loeb, Marion Meadows, John Lee), Johnny and Edgar Winter, The Shirelles, Blood Sweat and Tears, Michal Urbaniak, The Dalton Gang, Charlie Elgart. He is a member of a group led by John Lee, the Dizzy Gilliespie Alumni Band leader. With the John Lee Quartet, Karl has performed with Clark Terry, Jon Faddis, Claudio Roditi and many other jazz greats. Latham has been a regular since 1993 on the European jazz scene, appearing on tours with the band leaders Wolfgang Lackerschmid, Johannes Mossinger, and Enja recording artist Stefanie Schlesinger. Guest appearances have included Randy Brecker, Joe Lovano, Bob Malach, Ed Cherry and Attila Zoller. He is also the house drummer of the 18-piece Richie Cecere Orchestra in Montclair, and is an adjunct faculty member at Passaic County Community College. Fro this concert, Latham will be joined by bassist Kermit Driscoll, (Bill Frisell Group, John Zorn, Don Byron, Buddy Rich, SUNY Purchase Faculty Member); guitarist John Hart (Jack McDuff, Larry Goldings) and trumpeter Vinnie Cutro (Horace Silver, Buddy Rich, Spirit of Life Ensemble). Compositions for the evening will range from jazz standards to Jimi Hendrix. The Sparta Summer Concerts are presented admission free by the Sparta Cultural Affairs Committee, in conjunction with the Sparta Township Recreation and Parks Department. Funding is provided by Sparta Township, and through the generous support of local businesses and local patrons of the arts. The Sparta Summer Concerts are held Friday evenings June 24 through the end of July, in George Dykstra Park, behind the Sparta Public Library. In the event of inclement weather, the concerts will be held in the Mohawk Avenue School auditorium, adjacent to Dykstra Park. Visit www.spartaarts.org for further information regarding the Sparta Summer Concerts.