Matthew Fries
Matthew Fries | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 24, 1968 Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania |
| Genres | jazz |
| Occupation(s) | jazz pianist, composer, educator, musician |
| Instrument | piano |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Concord Records |
| Website | MatthewFries.com |
Matthew Fries (born September 24, 1968) is an American jazz pianist, composer, educator and winner of the 1997 Great American Jazz Piano Competition.
Early life and education
[edit]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]
Mid-Career: Great American Jazz Piano Competition and New York City
[edit]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 Piano Awards 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]
Kalamazoo: Western Michigan University
[edit]Fries is currently Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano at Western Michigan University School of Music.
Selected discography
[edit]- 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)
References
[edit]- ^ [1] "Trio Jazzes It Up," The Daily Item, by Jeffrey Allen Federowicz, July 1, 2010
- ^ [2] MatthewFries.com, "About"
- ^ [3] Western Michigan University School of Music, Faculty
- ^ [4] The Blue Note New York, Performance Schedule (CD Release Show), March 8, 2014
- ^ [5] MatthewFries.com, DOWNBEAT Magazine Review, April 2014
- ^ [6] All Music: Matthew Fries Discography
- ^ [7] Western Michigan University School of Music, Faculty
- ^ [8] MatthewFries.com, "About"
External links
[edit]| International | |
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| National | |
