David Matthews (keyboardist)

David Matthews is an American keyboardist, pianist, and music arranger.

Early life and education

Matthews was born David Richard Matthews in Sonora, Kentucky. He earned a bachelor's degree in composition from the University of Cincinnati.

Career

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, a psychedelic funkband in the seventies.
In 1970, he began working as both an arranger and bandleader for James Brown. Matthews has worked with various musicians, including Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Rich, Idris Muhammad, and the Starland Vocal Band. He was staff arranger for Creed Taylor's CTI Records label during the mid-1970s, working on albums for artists such as George Benson, Esther Phillips, Grover Washington Jr., Hank Crawford, and Idris Muhammad.
In 1977, he became one of the first artists to dedicate an entire composition to Frank Herbert's Dune, publishing an album that went by the same name.
In 1978, Matthews arranged strings and orchestra and played piano on Nina Simone's album Baltimore.
Matthews music has been heavily sampled by many hip-hop artists such as The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, MF DOOM, Method Man, Redman and Large Professor and others.

Discography

As leader

The Grodeck Whipperjenny, People – rec. 1970Big Band Recorded at the Five Spot Shoogie Wanna Boogie with Whirlwind Dune Digital Love Cosmic City with the Electric Birds Grand Cross Delta Lady Super Funky Sax Billy Boy Waltz for Debby Speed Demon with the First Calls Tennessee Waltz Jazz Ballads with Strings Super Trombone Watermelon Man Furuhata Jazz in N.Y. Mambo No. 5 Back to Bach Girl from Ipanema with N.Y. Friends Impressions with N.Y. Friends Hey Duke! with the Manhattan Jazz Orchestra – rec. 1999