Karl’s interest in music was initially sparked by a neighbor’s acoustic guitar when he was about 8 years old but began formally in the 6th grade when Karl learned to play trumpet, which he continued through 8th grade. In high school he switched to guitar and was inspired initially by the likes of Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page but soon became interested in jazz around 1985. Karl studied guitar privately in Gainesville, Florida and proceeded to take college music theory classes at Santa Fe Community College and the University of Florida. Karl attended the University of North Texas from 1987-1988 and followed guitar professor Jack Petersen, then at North Texas, to the University of North Florida in 1989, where he received his B.A. in Music in 1991.

Since graduating from UNF, Karl has resided in Miami, Atlanta, Gainesville (Florida), Jacksonville and Tallahassee and has performed extensively as a soloist, bandleader and sideman at clubs, festivals, restaurants and for private occasions.  In addition to playing jazz, popular, Latin and classical guitar styles he also has developed a rich baritone singing voice.

From 2003-2005 Karl attended Florida State University where he received a Masters in Jazz Studies. While at F.S.U. Karl was privileged to be allowed to study classical guitar with the world-renowned professor Bruce Holzman as well as jazz pianist Marcus Roberts. Karl also studied Baroque music history and counterpoint while at F.S.U. and these studies had a significant impact on his understanding of music past and present.

From 2005 to the present Karl has resided in Gainesville, FL and has assembled a quality home studio, recording tracks for the 2008 release “In Hand”.  In 2010 Karl released “Smile for the Count”, an album of original music, composed and engineered entirely in his home studio, featuring some of the brightest young players on the scene today. Karl spends his leisure time on the water, kayaking or canoeing in North Florida’s beautiful water ways.