Stearns Matthews' debut album, SPARK, showcaseshis 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).