David Matthews (keyboardist)
Encyclopedia
David Matthews is a keyboardist
, pianist
, and arranger, born (March 4, 1942) in Sonora, Kentucky
, United States.
A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor's degree in composition, Matthews has composed television soundtracks as well as albums with the Manhattan Jazz Orchestra. He is the leader of the Manhattan Jazz Quintet
. Matthews was also the leader of the musical group The Grodeck Whipperjenny.
In 1970, he began working as both an arranger and bandleader for James Brown
. Matthews has worked with many musicians, including Bonnie Raitt
, Buddy Rich
, Idris Muhammad
and the Starland Vocal Band
. He was staff arranger for Creed Taylor's CTI Records
label in the mid-70s, working on albums for artists such as George Benson, Esther Phillips, Grover Washington Jr., Hank Crawford and Idris Muhammad. In 1978, Matthews arranged strings and orchestra, and played piano, on Nina Simone
's landmark CTI Records
album Baltimore
.
He resides in Manhattan with his wife, Mattie Smith Matthews.
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and arranger, born (March 4, 1942) in Sonora, Kentucky
Sonora, Kentucky
Sonora is a city in Hardin County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 350 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Elizabethtown, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Sonora is located at ....
, United States.
A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor's degree in composition, Matthews has composed television soundtracks as well as albums with the Manhattan Jazz Orchestra. He is the leader of the Manhattan Jazz Quintet
Manhattan Jazz Quintet
The Manhattan Jazz Quintet is a jazz ensemble consisting of David Matthews on piano, Lew Soloff on trumpet, Victor Lewis on drums, Andy Snitzer on saxophone, and Charnett Moffett on bass...
. Matthews was also the leader of the musical group The Grodeck Whipperjenny.
In 1970, he began working as both an arranger and bandleader for James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
. Matthews has worked with many musicians, including Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
, Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad
Idris Muhammad is a jazz drummer. He changed his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover...
and the Starland Vocal Band
Starland Vocal Band
Starland Vocal Band were an American pop band, known primarily for "Afternoon Delight", one of the biggest-selling singles in 1976.-Career:The group began as 'Fat City', a husband/wife duo of Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert. The band was also composed of Jon Carroll and Margot Chapman...
. He was staff arranger for Creed Taylor's CTI Records
CTI Records
CTI Records was a jazz record label founded in 1967 by producer/A&R manager Creed Taylor. Initially, CTI was a subsidiary of A&M Records, but the label went independent in 1970...
label in the mid-70s, working on albums for artists such as George Benson, Esther Phillips, Grover Washington Jr., Hank Crawford and Idris Muhammad. In 1978, Matthews arranged strings and orchestra, and played piano, on Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
's landmark CTI Records
CTI Records
CTI Records was a jazz record label founded in 1967 by producer/A&R manager Creed Taylor. Initially, CTI was a subsidiary of A&M Records, but the label went independent in 1970...
album Baltimore
Baltimore (album)
Baltimore is an album by singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone. It is part of her later works and can be regarded alongside Fodder On My Wings as one of her better achievements of that period...
.
He resides in Manhattan with his wife, Mattie Smith Matthews.
As leader
- The Grodeck Whipperjenny , People Records (recorded 1970)
- Big Band Recorded at the Five Spot (1975)
- Shoogie Wanna Boogie , Kudu Records (1976)(with Whirlwind)
- Dune , CTI RecordsCTI RecordsCTI Records was a jazz record label founded in 1967 by producer/A&R manager Creed Taylor. Initially, CTI was a subsidiary of A&M Records, but the label went independent in 1970...
(1977) - Digital Love (1979)
- Grand Cross , Bellaphon Germany (1983)
- Delta Lady (1983)
- Waltz for Debby (1987)
- Speed Demon , (1989)(with The First Calls)
- Super Funky Sax (1989)
- Jazz Ballads with Strings (1991)
- Super Trombone (2003)
- Girl from Ipanema (2005)(with N.Y. Friends)
- Impressions (2005)(with N.Y. Friends)
- Hey Duke! (2005)(with The Manhattan Jazz Orchestra)
- Cosmic City (2006)(with the Electric Birds)
- Digital Love (2006)(with the Electric Birds)
Appears On
- James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, "Sho’ Is Funky Down Here", King RecordsKing Recordsis a Japanese record company, founded in 1931 as a division of Japanese publisher Kodansha. It became and began operating as an independent entity in the 1950s, but remains part of the publisher's Otowa Group...
album (1971) (sort of a follow up to Grodeck Whipperjenny's first album) - James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, "I Cried/World Pt. 2", Starday King 7" (1971) - Vicki AndersonVicki AndersonVicki Anderson is a soul singer best known for her performances with the James Brown Revue. She recorded a number of singles under both her birth and stage names...
, "I'll Work It Out/In The Land Of Milk And Honey", Brownstone Records 7" (1971) - James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, "I Got A Bag Of My Own", Polydor 7" (1972) - Lyn CollinsLyn CollinsLyn Collins was an African American soul singer best known for working with James Brown in the 1970s. Contrary to some reports, she is not related to Bootsy Collins, nor Catfish Collins....
, Think (About It), People Records (1972) - James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, "Sexy, Sexy, Sexy", Polydor 7" (1973)
Production
- Idris MuhammadIdris MuhammadIdris Muhammad is a jazz drummer. He changed his name in the 1960s upon his conversion to Islam. He is known for his funky playing style. He has released a number of albums as leader, and has played with a number of jazz legends including Lou Donaldson, Johnny Griffin, Pharoah Sanders and Grover...
, House Of The Rising Sun, Kudu (1975) - Idris Muhammad, Could Heaven Ever Be Like This (12"), Kudu (1977)
- Idris Muhammad, Turn This Mutha Out (12"), Kudu (1977)
- Idris Muhammad, Turn This Mutha Out, Kudu (1977)
- Idris Muhammad, Turn This Mutha Out (7"), Kudu (1977)
- Idris Muhammad, Boogie To The Top , Kudu (1978)
- Idris Muhammad, Boogie To The Top, Metronome Musik GmbH (1978)
- Idris Muhammad, Boogie Boots / Foxhuntin (12"), FantasyFantasy RecordsFantasy Records is a United States-based record label that was founded by Max and Sol Weiss in 1949 in San Francisco, California. They had previously operated a record-pressing plant called Circle Record Company before forming the Fantasy label...
(1979) - Grant GreenGrant GreenGrant Green was a jazz guitarist and composer....
, The Main AttractionThe Main Attraction (Grant Green album)The Main Attraction is an album by American jazz guitarist Grant Green featuring performances recorded in 1976 and released on the Kudu label.-Reception:...
Arranger Kudu (1976) - Nina Simone BaltimoreBaltimore (album)Baltimore is an album by singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone. It is part of her later works and can be regarded alongside Fodder On My Wings as one of her better achievements of that period...
Arranger & Piano (12" LP) CTI 1978
External links
- [ Allmusic], David Matthews Bio.