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Audio Clip 1: Open Water (Matthew Fries performing with Tri-Fi)
Audio Clip 2: The Sweet Life (from his solo recording, "Parallel States")

Pianist Matthew Fries has been making waves in the jazz world as both a soloist and accompanist. The winner of the Great American Jazz Piano Competition, his debut album, Song for Today () was named a 2001 critics pick by Jazziz Magazine, and his continuing work with his collaborative trio, , “takes on the Jazz Trio challenge and delivers a ‘knock out’ punch” (Jazz Review). As a sideman his work has been described as “the best jazz accompaniment I’ve seen in a cabaret in years” (The New York Times), and “the crispest rhythm section imaginable” (The London Times).

Matthew has been playing piano all his life. He was born in the small town of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, and grew up in a musical home. His mother was a classical singer. His father was a professor of piano at Susquehanna University and was Matthew’s first teacher, teaching him piano and music theory. During high school he played trumpet and sang in school choruses, but returned to piano after a college jazz history course awakened his interest in jazz piano. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Ithaca College and went on to earn a Master’s Degree from The University of Tennessee, where he taught undergraduate classes and studied with jazz piano great, Donald Brown.

Matthew tours frequently with his collaborative trio, , and with singer, , as a regular member of his band. He continues to perform with a diverse lineup of artists that has included Stacey Kent, Ann Hampton Callaway, DeeDee Bridgewater, Vincent Herring, Steve Wilson, Dave Samuels, Claudio Roditi, Terell Stafford, and many others.

Matthew Fries 

Assistant Professor, Keyboard Jazz Studies

Office: (269) 387-4688

Location:

1201 Dalton Center, Mail Stop 5434

Mailing address:

Irving S. Gilmore School of Music
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5434 USA 

Education:

• M.M., Jazz Studies, University of Tennessee, 1993
• B.M., Jazz Studnes, Ithaca College, 1990