Pianist/composer MATTHEW FRIES is a joyful voice on the piano, recording ten albumsfeaturing his original compositions. His music has been described as "playful andhopeful", “introspective", "full of joy and wonderment", and "awash with tonal colors." But itis his deeply swinging piano style and collaborative spirit that have also made him an in-demand sideman for both instrumentalists and vocalists. Winner of the Great AmericanJazz Piano Competition, he has toured worldwide, appears on scores of recordings, and hiswork 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 is also a dedicated educator and he continues to teach lessons, masterclasses,and clinics throughout the US and abroad. Since 2017 he is a proud part of the WesternMichigan University faculty as Professor of Jazz Piano where he teaches private lessons,coaches jazz combos, and teaches classes in jazz theory, improvisation, composition and arranging.