Matthew Fries

Born into a musical family in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, Matthew Fries began studying piano and music theory under the tutelage of his father John Fries at an early age. John was a piano professor at Susquehanna University from 1966-1996. His mother Harriet was a classical vocalist, choir director and an original member of the Susquehanna Valley Chorale.[1][2]

Fries received a Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College in 1990 and a Master of Music degree from the University of Tennessee in 1993, both in Jazz Studies. His jazz piano teachers include Donald Brown, James Williams, and Mulgrew Miller.[3]

In 1997 Fries won The Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, Florida, which was associated with the Jacksonville Jazz Festival.[4] He placed second in the competition the year before. In 1998 Fries was a finalist and runner-up in the American Pianists Association Jazz Piano Competition.

Fries' debut as a leader, "Song for Today," was released in 2001 and was named a JAZZIZ Magazine Critic's Pick for the year. After moving to New York City, Fries established the collaborative jazz piano trio TRI-FI, which features Phil Palombi on bass and Keith Hall on drums and has released five albums to date. DownBeat gave 2014's "Staring into the Sun" a 4-star review, citing the ensemble's "intimate group interplay."[5]

Fries is known as an accompanist for jazz vocalist Curtis Stigers, with whom he recorded four albums on Concord Records.[6]

He has since performed with a diverse group of musicians including Ann Hampton Callaway, DeeDee Bridgewater, Vincent Herring, Steve Wilson, Dave Samuels, Claudio Roditi, and Terell Stafford.[7]

Fries has performed as both a leader and sideman at notable jazz clubs such as the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City, Smalls Jazz Club, Birdland and Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London.[8]

Fries is currently Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano at Western Michigan University School of Music.

• Parallel States solo piano (2016, Xcappa Records)
• Staring Into the Sun with TRI-FI (2014, Independent)
• Sputnik (2014)
• Three with TRI-FI (2011, Independent)
• A TRI-FI Christmas with TRI-FI (2011, Independent)
• Hooray for Love with Curtis Stigers (2014, Concord Records)
• Lost in Dreams with Curtis Stigers (2009, Concord Records)
• Real Emotional with Curtis Stigers (2007, Concord Records)
• Postcards with TRI-FI (2007)
• TRI-FI with TRI-FI (2005)
• I Think It's Going To Rain Today with Curtis Stigers (2005, Concord Records)
• Live at Smalls, Vol. 2 with Bill Mobley Orchestra (2002, Space Time Records)
• Song for Today (2001, TCB Music)
• Live at Smalls, Vol. 1 with Bill Mobley Orchestra (1998, Space Time Records)

• Matthew Fries at Western Michigan University
• Matthew Fries at AllMusic