All the music-related news I can find to share with you.
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 […]
I’ve got a couple international gigs with my trio coming up this summer in London and Copenhagen! Please tell your friends.
Donald Elfman at the New York City Jazz Record gave my Parallel States project a very nice review in the June 2016 Issue. “From the first notes of this extraordinary recording, it is clear that the relationship between music and art is what inspired the project. Each of the works by pianist Matthew Fries and […]
Mike Gates at UK Vibe gave Parallel States a nice review. “There is some wonderful, lyrical, expressive playing to be enjoyed on ‘Parallel States’… This is music to lose yourself in, with Fries proving just what a consummate performer he is. His tunes are full of joy and wonderment, whilst still retaining a thoughtful, skillful […]
Robert Ratajczak posted a nice review of Parallel States on the Polish blog, Longplay. “Wszelkie nawiązania, bądź dostrzegalne w kompozycjach echa, stanowią zaledwie jeden z wielu składników decydujących o ostatecznym kolorycie utworów wypełniających “Parallel States”, płytę wypełnioną muzyką nasyconą ogromem przestrzeni i silnie prowokująca wyobraźnię.”
Chris Spector over at the Midwest Record gives Parallel States a short, but enthusiastic review. “…this is one of those sets that raises the bar and sets the gold standard for its genre…”