Stearns Matthews Plays Album Release Show Tonight

Acclaimed cabaret vocalist Stearns Matthews is proud to announce the release of his debut album, SPARK, today, November 1st, 2014. After six years of entertaining in cabaret rooms with "a voice as pure as rainwater" (William Westhoven, The Daily Record), Matthews leaps to the next stage of his career: recording.

The recording showcases Matthews' musical versatility as well as dynamic range, and features a mix of new arrangements of time-tested standards, musical theater favorites, as well as a never-before-recorded song by John Bucchino, My Alligator and Me.

Matthews' soft side shines on Kander and Ebb's My Own Space and Drift Away from Scott Frankel and Michael Korie's Tony Award-winning musical Grey Gardens, while The Spark of Creation (from Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden) and King of the Road (Roger Miller) display his signature high-powered, fiery belt.
Another high point on the album is a completely reimagined arrangement of the country favorite I Can't Stop Loving You by Don Gibson. Matthews' heartfelt and emotional performance on this track is unique as well as fiercely passionate.

Produced by Emmy Award winner Paul Rolnick, the album features musical direction by MAC and Bistro Award winner Christopher Denny. Matthews is backed by a stunning ensemble of instruments including piano, bass, drums, guitars, strings, trumpet, saxophone, and even melodica, played by Stearns himself.
As Andrew Martin wrote of a live "Sneak Peek" of the album in June 2014, "What's equally staggering, and the utter essence of true cabaret genius, is his unbelievable ability to take a room on a complete roller coaster ride and transform the audience from utterly jubilant one minute, senselessly depressed a few minutes later, and then back into the stratosphere" (NiteLifeExchange.com, June 2014).

Stearns Matthews will celebrate the release of SPARK with live performances tonight, November 1st at 7:00pm and Saturday, December 6th at 4:30pm at The Duplex, 61 Christopher Street (at Seventh Avenue), NYC. There is a $20 cover charge as well as a two-drink minimum. The show is directed by Lennie Watts and will feature all of the songs on the album, musically directed and accompanied by Christopher Denny on piano. For reservations: www.theduplex.com or (212) 255-5438. For more information, visit www.stearnsmatthews.com.