This is a collection of primo R&B songs done by a long term musician in the R&B world. A deeper look into the songs on this record, Interpretations”, provides insight into the person who records them. The key elements that seem to be the common denominator are great song structure and sophisticated melodic sense. There is also the rhythm aspect as well. This is evident in the multiple tracks from this new record by Charles Matthews Jr. Charles’s biography shows a long term commitment to the musical styles here. They bounce back and forth from hi-brow Urban Jazz Funk styling of artists like Grover Washington to the Pop delights of Michael Jackson and to the softer R&B of Roberta Flack.
The wide range of music found on Interpretations comes from Mr. Matthews work as a musician for the same class of artists he chooses to cover. He had done musical work and shows with such artists as the Chi-Lites, Jerry Butler and New Orleans legend Lloyd Price. There are a few downsides with this recording. One being the keyboard sound itself. Sometimes it seems to need a more organic and less electronic sound. There also seems to be some element of musical stiffness to a few of the tracks. That could be a byproduct of the electronic rhythms that some songs seem to have. This album shines when the tracks seem to display a give and take between live musicians. The most successful tracks like “Everything Must Change”, a straight forward reading of the George Benson classic, have a certain intimacy and feel that some of the other tracks do not share, despite the overall cohesion of the recording sound.
There is also the wild card appearance of the old 1970’s chestnut by the duo Seals and Crofts, “Summer Breeze”. I was not expecting to hear this one alongside the other great R&B songs in this collection. But just as it made sense in the 1970’s Billboard charts to hear alongside of the music then it fits comfortably among the classic songs now. Charles clearly has an ear for strong melody and despite some of the contrived sounds of the instruments he turns in a strong performance of great classics that we all know and love. “Interpretations” is a good solid effort and worthy of a listen for fans of R&B instrumentals.
