“This is not just another trio standards recording. The originality of each player is incredible. “Night dreamer” is surely an album highlight showcasing the band's fantastic sense of dynamics and swing. Alex Collins/Ryan Berg/Karl Latham – Together is one of the finest trio jazz albums to surface in a long time.”

Doc Wendell

Together

Alex Collins, Ryan Berg, Karl Latham

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Alex Collins/Karl Latham/Ryan Berg “Together” An album emerging from diverse musical and generational backgrounds, “Together” is an inviting release from world renowned drummer Karl Latham and fast rising New York area Read more

Alex Collins/Karl Latham/Ryan Berg “Together” An album emerging from diverse musical and generational backgrounds, “Together” is an inviting release from world renowned drummer Karl Latham and fast rising New York area musicians pianist Alex Collins and bassist Ryan Berg. “Together” was created from live streaming events at “Concerts from the Cabin” during the COVID shutdown. Meeting in the studio the trio discovered their immediate chemistry exploring timeless jazz standards. Upon hearing the broadcast of their first event they knew that they wanted to share their collective spirited adventures with the world.

“Together” presents spirited explorations with creative soaring solos, stunning introductions and constant interplay.

Featured tracks include “Stella by Starlight”, Wayne Shorter’s “Night Dreamer”, “On Green Dolphin Street and “Alone Together”. Alex Collins (Piano) Ryan Berg (Bass) Karl Latham (Drums); 1 Stella by Starlight 9:19 2 Alone Together 7:51 3 On Green Dolphin Street 6:23 4 Polka Dots and Moonbeams 12:27 5 Night Dreamer 6:19 6 Invitation 9:45

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    Stella by Starlight 9:19
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    Alone Together 7:51
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    On Green Dolphin Street 6:23
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    Polka Dots and Moonbeams 12:27
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    Night Dreamer 6:19
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    Invitation 9:45
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alex collins, ryan berg, karl latham

“The mood created by these three masters is mesmerizing. Latham flirts with time while Collins ventures his way across the piano keyboard with skill and precision. The musicians speak to each other with soul and a masterful knowledge of the jazz language.” - Doc Wendell, LA Jazz Scene 

Alex Collins/Ryan Berg/Karl Latham – Together

By Doc Wendell

Alex Collins/Ryan Berg/Karl Latham – Together

By Doc Wendell

Legendary jazz drummer Karl Latham has teamed up with up-and-coming jazz pianist Alex Collins and bassist Ryan Berg for a thrilling album of jazz standards called “Together.” One cannot escape the truly intimate feel of this very special recording. It feels as if this trio has been playing together for quite a long time. Collins’ delicate touch on the piano and the overall sense of dynamics demonstrates true mastery and an understanding of the chosen jazz standards such as “Stella By starlight,” “Alone Together,” “On Green Dolphin Street,” and

“Polka Dots And Moonbeams.” Berg alternates between finger picking and bowing on the bass and Latham often plays as soft as a whisper to give Collins and Berg more solo space. The mood created by these three masters is mesmerizing. Latham flirts with time while Collins ventures his way across the piano keyboard with skill and precision. The musicians speak to each other with soul and a masterful knowledge of the jazz language. This is not just another trio standards recording. The originality of each player is incredible. “Night dreamer” is surely an album highlight showcasing the band’s fantastic sense of dynamics and swing.

Alex Collins/Ryan Berg/Karl Latham – Together is one of the finest trio jazz albums to surface in a long time. It is not to be missed.

The album is available on iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby and Bandcamp.

ALEX COLLINS/RYAN BERG/KARL LATHAM 

August 14, 2021 

Together 

Dropzonejazz, 2021 

8/10 

A collaboration between 3 esteemed musicians, Alex Collins, Ryan Berg and Karl Latham turn in some modern interpretations of timeless standards here, where their exciting interplay and no lack of solos make for a technical and adventurous listen. 

“Stella By Starlight” starts the listen with twinkling keys from Collins, as Berg’s playfully plucked bass and Latham’s restrained drumming guide the frisky jazz climate, and “Alone Together” follows with a quicker pace of flawless dynamics between the trio, where flowing melody invades the precise song craft. 

Halfway through, “On Green Dolphin Street” allows each player to shine in their own radiant light and which swings with much allure, while “Polka Dots And Moonbeams” takes a calmer approach amid much beauty that showcases keys as subtle drumming adds much to the reflective climate. 

At the end, “Night Dreamer”, a Wayne Shorter tune, builds into a dizzying and meticulous display of modern jazz prowess, and “Invitation” exits the listen with fascinating finger acrobatics from Collins, though Berg and Latham’s contributions won’t go unnoticed on the highly intricate finish. 

Let’s hope that these 3 aren’t done working together, cause their chemistry and arranging skills put a fresh coat of paint on already great tunes, essentially making them even more enticing in their contemporary jazz vision.

Tom Haugen

Alex collins/Ryan Berg/Karl Latham

Together

"When you combine these three exceptionally talented individuals, you get an opportunity to hear what the perfect jazz trio should sound like, under the best of circumstances.  This is an album I will enjoy time after time, year after year, always discovering something fresh and exciting to please my jazz palate.  Their music is absolutely delicious!"

MUSICAL MEMOIR REVIEWS
by Dee Dee McNeil

 

"a program that harks back to tradition even as it lovingly explodes it, and on tender deconstructions of tunes like “On Green Dolphin Street” and “Polka Dots and Moonbeams” the effect is electrifying. Highly recommended."

Rick Anderson 
CD HotList: New Releases for Libraries 

 

"Your ears are going to find the recording quality on this album hard to believe, but I can tell you right now that this is one of the most spirited, soaring and diverse jazz sets I have listened to (yet) in 2021...I give Alex, Ryan and Karl a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, with an “EQ” (energy quotient)
score of 4.99"

Spirited soaring diverse jazz Alex Collins, Ryan Berg, Karl Latham – Together 
By Dick Metcalf, editor, Contemporary Fusion Reviews

T0gether at Amazon

Alex Collins - Ryan Berg - Karl Latham

"Together"

An album emerging from diverse musical and generational backgrounds, “Together” is an inviting release from renowned drummer Karl Latham and fast rising New York area musicians pianist: Alex Collins and bassist Ryan Berg. “Together” created from live streaming events, presents spirited explorations with creative soaring solos, stunning introductions and constant interplay.

Alex Collins (Piano) 

Ryan Berg (Bass) 

Karl Latham (Drums) 

1 Stella by Starlight 9:19 

2 Alone Together 7:51 

3  On Green Dolphin Street 6:23 

4 Polka Dots and Moonbeams 12:27 

5 Night Dreamer 6:19 

6 Invitation 9:45 

Alex Collins - Alex Collins is a New York City pianist, composer and arranger, performing with Michelle Coltrane; Gerry Gibbs on his #1 record, Weather or Not (2017) and Our People (June 2019). Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars; Lenny White; Lonnie Plaxico,and Ronnie Burrage.  Alex received the Wynton Kelly Jazz Foundation Award for Jazz Achievement (2003). 

Ryan Berg - Ryan Berg has made himself a staple on the New York jazz scene performing with Gregory Porter, Ravi Coltrane, Mark Whitfield, Lindsey Webster, JD Allen, Jeff Coffin, Lenny White, Rashid Ali, Gerald Clayton, Logan Richardson, Roy Hargrove, The Brianna Thomas Band, and Frank Lacy Sextet.  

Karl Latham- Internationally recognized in a variety of musical styles with artists including John Lee Quartet; Bernie Worrell; The Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars; Jerry Vivino; Andy Snitzer; Wolfgang Lackerschmid; Johannes Mossinger; Ali Ryerson and Don Braden/Karl Latham Big Funk. Karl is listed in DrummerWorld "Top" Drummers Lists; Latham/Carniaux/Egan “Constellations” 2016 BMW Welt Jazz Award selection; The Best Jazz of 2013/2015 35th/37th Annual Jazz Station Polls: 2013 Drums: #7 Karl Latham; 2015 Drums: #5 Karl Latham.

Ryan Berg - Karl Latham - Alex Collins