"Brighten The Corner Where You Are" - A Jazz Concert Kickoff Event - featuring Emily Perkins, soprano and Matthew Fries, pianist

Soprano Emily Perkins invites audiences on a journey through the rich tapestry of jazz, tracing its roots from early New Orleans to the Golden Age and into the vibrant sounds shaped by today’s leading artists.  As the featured vocalist with the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors, Emily Perkins blends timeless tradition with contemporary storytelling in a performance that celebrates the depth and diversity of America’s greatest art form.

Matthew Fries is a joyful voice on the piano with a unique and recognizable style that is authentically rooted in the tradition of the classic jazz pianists, while still looking forward to the future of the music and the instrument.

As a composer and leader he has performed his own music extensively, recording ten albums of mostly original compositions. His music has been described as playful and hopeful, introspective, full of joy and wonderment, and awash with tonal colors. But it is his deeply swinging piano style and collaborative spirit that have also made him an in-demand sideman for both instrumentalists and vocalists. He has toured worldwide, appears on scores of recordings, and his work 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).

This concert will mark the official opening of the 7th season of Benton Harbor's GhostLight Theatre and is open to the public. 100% of all proceeds will go directly towards supporting the GhostLight's 2026 annual fund.