All the music-related news I can find to share with you.
I’ve been using some of my forced free time to explore some new skills. I’ve been playing with music production software, and in this project I sampled a bunch of sounds from my kitchen – banged on cups, opened drawers, shook spice bottles, slammed refrigerators – dumped them into Ableton, added a lead and bass […]
It was a challenging way to finish out the school year – teaching classes and lessons remotely. And now the virus lockdown has cancelled my entire summer of touring (you’ll notice my calendar is completely empty…). But I’ve been trying to stay creative with my colleagues as Western Michigan University. We’ve been doing some remote […]
It’s hard to believe I’m about to start my third year teaching at Western Michigan University. The first two years have presented a long list of challenges and some very deep personal rewards. This third year will add a few more challenges as I take on teaching a new class (Jazz Arranging) and directing an […]
It’s become a summer pattern to play a week of gigs at Ronnie Scotts in London with Curtis Stigers. It’s always great to be back there, and this year will be extra fun because I’ll also be playing a couple nights of trio opening for Archie Shepp. Hope to see some UK friends there! June […]
I’m off to Denmark next week to play a few shows with Curtis Stigers. It’s been a few years since I’ve been there and I’m looking forward to being back. While I’m there working with Curtis, I’ll also be squeezing in a solo piano show in Nyborg.
This should be a lot fun. Overneath Creative Collective asked me to put together a concert for their KBR series. I asked my good friend Phil Palombi to join me for this live duo recording session, and you’re invited.
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be teaching jazz piano at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan for the 2017-2018 school year.
My November newsletter includes highlights of upcoming gigs in State College, PA, NYC, Dublin & London. Read the Newsletter
Bob Bernotas included Parallel States in his list of recommended listening in his October 2016 Just Jazz e-Newsletter. “Pianist Matthew Fries has collaborated with his sister, visual artist Loryn Spangler-Jones, to create this program of “parallel art and music.” Alone, Fries’ compositions are absorbing and stimulating, and Spangler-Jones paintings are vivid and striking. Together, they’ve produced […]
Raul da Gama at JazzdaGama gave Parallel States a very nice review! Some very kind words. “His Parallel States, a collection of nine pieces inspired by the paintings of Loryn Spangler-Jones is altogether beautiful… Matthew Fries’ touch is light and inspirational. He captures the lines of the paintings in graceful arcs, often suggesting melodies that […]
Yves Dorison at Culture Jazz in France gave Parallel States a nice review. “Une affaire de famille en quelque sorte et un peu plus que cela. Nous nous sommes laissés prendre par ces figures musicales souvent méditatives…”
Parallel States My new solo piano album is here. It’s a collection of 9 original compositions that I created in a collaborative project with my sister, visual artist, Loryn Spangler-Jones. Visit my music page for audio samples, images of the paintings Loryn created, a description of the process behind the recording, and links to where […]