David Matthews

Keyboardist David Matthews has been, among other things, a steady source of funk, whether drinking it in from the sweat of the rhythmically innovative soul godfather <a href="spotify:artist:7GaxyUddsPok8BuhxN6OUW">James Brown</a> or attempting to pour it over the head of the somewhat wimpier <a href="spotify:artist:2CvCyf1gEVhI0mX6aFXmVI">Paul Simon</a>. Trends for better or worse that Matthews has been associated with since the '70s also include the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22CTI+%22">CTI </a>sound, an exhaustive list of television soundtracks and commercial advertisements, and a series of critically praised releases by <a href="spotify:artist:5ErHuYNRcIkN6tN4ivl22g">the Manhattan Jazz Orchestra</a>. He should not be confused with the <a href="spotify:artist:13vQloYd6mP7V1mVwKJwS2">Dave Matthews</a> of jam band fame, nor the earlier arranger and reed player from the big-band heyday, although both of them appear to have worked for <a href="spotify:artist:1Mxqyy3pSjf8kZZL4QVxS0">Frank Sinatra</a> at one time.

A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor's degree in composition, Matthews began his performing career as the leader of a dance band in the late '60s. This group toured extensively in several parts of Europe and Matthews also began establishing a presence on the Cincinnati jazz scene. The next move was a big one; in 1970 he began working as both an arranger and bandleader for <a href="spotify:artist:7GaxyUddsPok8BuhxN6OUW">James Brown</a>, making it possible for him to relocate to New York City and utilize the <a href="spotify:artist:7GaxyUddsPok8BuhxN6OUW">Brown</a> connection in order to garner steady freelance assignments. His clients included demanding performers such as drummer and bandleader <a href="spotify:artist:1pVtwG5Up1OZOEpSHJ4AAs">Buddy Rich</a>, singers <a href="spotify:artist:3NSAbrtudtKqp7j0C4bqxQ">Mark Murphy</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4KDyYWR7IpxZ7xrdYbKrqY">Bonnie Raitt</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:66QeIFuFJDNCImNHlFzrY1">the Starland Vocal Band</a>, among many others. In the mid-'70s he became staff arranger for the CTI label, resulting in a series of smooth productions that were loved by some jazz buffs and loathed by others. Matthews formed his own groups from this period on, including <a href="spotify:artist:4Y632YMyQaLPRiQT40v3ob">the Manhattan Jazz Quintet</a>. He scored many films for Hollywood, such as The Parallax View, the first version of The Stepford Wives, and Night Moves. He also has had quite a high profile for his activities in Japan. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi