Sullivan Fortner
Biography
Sullivan Fortner (born 1986 in New Orleans) has been a steadfast innovator in the jazz microcosm for over a decade. A graduate from the Oberlin Conservatory and Manhattan School of Music, Fortner was a member of vibraphonist Stefon Harris’ band and later the core pianist in the late Roy Hargrove’s quintet from 2010 to 2017. These days he frequently exercises his curiosity and musical prowess as a bandleader, solo pianist, or leader of an orchestra. He’s graced the stages of the most treasured houses of jazz, including the Village Vanguard, Smalls Jazz Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the Jazz Standard, not to mention an array of festivals celebrating the jazz idiom. His approach to harmonic exploration shines through in his renditions of timeless standards as well as his own compositions. In his playing you can witness the references to multiple eras of jazz that preceded him and how he harnesses those elements to produce a unique sound that evolves the music. His talents have been recognized alongside other legendary musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Diane Reeves, John Scofield, Kassa Overall, Tivon Pennicott, and Peter Bernstein. He’s released a number of albums to critical acclaim including Moments Preserved (Decca, 2018) and Aria (Impulse!, 2015).