There are countless ways to express gratitude. For David K. Mathews, the veteran Bay Area pianist, organist and keyboardist, the recording studio seemed like an ideal vehicle for crafting an extended love letter to the scene that s nurtured and inspired him for four decades. A companion to 2017 s critically hailed The Fantasy Vocal Sessions Vol. 1, Standards, the second volume showcases many of same brilliant Bay Area singers (and a much larger cast of players). But instead of concentrating on American Songbook standards through the lens of straight-ahead jazz, this album offers a deep dive into the Great American Soulbook with a particular focus on songs defined or written by Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and James Brown. It s a communal celebration, a welcoming stage with an encompassing spotlight. Everyone gets a little taste, says Mathews. The Fantasy Vocal Sessions were born out of Mathew s desire to record a project with Etta James, the R&B icon with whom he spent two decades touring. When her failing health derailed the collaboration, Mathews decided to seize the moment, inviting a diverse cast of musicians into West Berkeley s Fantasy Studios for the initial sessions. He included some genuine hitmakers in the mix, but Mathews wanted to highlight some of the region s most extravagantly under-celebrated artists. The subtitle for the albums could easily be Hidden Gems. The project s double-barreled name refers to both the iconic and now shuttered studio and to the recordings themselves. They re the Fantasy Sessions and it s my fantasy too, Mathews says. It s my thanks for being able to grow up in this wonderful and culturally diverse place, and it s my love letter to all of my musical brothers and sisters who have inspired me throughout my long career in the Bay Area music scene.