Sullivan Joseph Fortner (born December 29, 1986) is an American jazz pianist. He was the regular pianist in trumpeter Roy Hargrove's band from 2010 to 2017, and has released two albums on Impulse! Records. He has received three Grammy Awards, including Best Jazz Performance for his collaboration with Samara Joy on the song "Twinkle Twinkle Little Me".
Early life Fortner was born and grew up in New Orleans."Get to Know Jazz Fellowship Awards Finalist Sullivan Fortner". (October 7, 2014) American Pianists Association."Sullivan Fortner". (September 22, 2013) Smalls Live. He started playing the piano from the age of four. He was inspired to play by seeing a woman playing the organ in a local church. His mother was the choir director of a Baptist church; he began playing the organ there at the age of seven. For a time, he relied on his perfect pitch to learn and play music; this had to change when he successfully auditioned for the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.
Education Fortner went on to obtain a bachelor's degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music.Burton, Tonya (October 7, 2014) "Society Column: Jazz Pianists Impress APA Sponsors at Ozdemir Estate". Current in Carmel.
Later life and career
In 2009, Fortner was part of vibraphonist Stefon Harris' band,Ratliff, Ben (October 23, 2009) "Jazz and Funk Roots, Joyfully Unearthed". The New York Times. including for a tour of Europe. Fortner was pianist in trumpeter Roy Hargrove's quintet from 2010 to 2017.West, Michael J. (January 25, 2015) Pianist Sullivan Fortner and Ensemble at Kennedy Center". The Washington Post. Fortner became strongly influenced by fellow pianist Barry Harris from 2011, when he realised that his knowledge of the music was too shallow. Fortner recorded with the Hargrove band's saxophonist, Justin Robinson, in 2013.Ross, John (October 2014) "Justin Robinson – The Power of Dedication". Down Beat. p. 21. In 2015, Fortner was the winner of the American Piano Awards Cole Porter Fellowship in Jazz, a prize that consists of "$50,000, the opportunity to record for Mack Avenue Records, and two years of professional career services and development".Chinen, Nate (March 29, 2015) "Sullivan Fortner Wins 2015 Cole Porter Fellowship in Jazz". The New York Times.
In early 2015, Fortner's quartet contained saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, bassist Ameen Saleem and drummer Jeremy "Bean" Clemons. Fortner's first release as leader was Aria from Impulse! Records, and received a four-star review from DownBeat magazine. The next, Moments Preserved, was mainly a trio album, with Saleem and Clemons, but Hargrove also played on three of the tracks. Fortner played on some of the tracks that formed Paul Simon's album In the Blue Light.
At the 2026 Grammy Awards, Fortner was a winner for Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Southern Nights.
Awards and honors 2016: Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists "Steinway Featured Artist: Sullivan Fortner". 2016: DownBeat magazine: "25 for the Future" 2020: DownBeat Critics' Poll, Rising Star Arranger 2026: The Gilmore's Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award{https://www.thegilmore.org/blog/2026-larry-j-bell-jazz-artist-award-recipient-sullivan-fortner/]
Discography An asterisk (*) indicates the year the album was released.
As leader Year recordedTitleLabelPersonnel2015*AriaImpulse!Quartet, with Tivon Pennicott (tenor sax, soprano sax), Aidan Carroll (bass), Joe Dyson Jr. (drums)2018*Moments PreservedImpulse!Most tracks trio, with Ameen Saleem (bass), Jeremy "Bean" Clemons (drums); three tracks quartet, with Roy Hargrove added2018Tea for TwoDuo, with Kyle Athayde (vibraphone)2021–22Solo GameArtworkSolo (Fortner plays piano, Hammond B3, Fender Rhodes, vocoder, carillon, celesta, drum set, percussion, etc.)2023Southern NightsArtworkTrio, with Peter Washington (bass), Marcus Gilmore (drums)2023Leave That In ThereArtworkTrio, with Tyrone Allen II (bass), Kayvon Gordon (drums)
As sideman Year recordedLeaderTitleLabel2007*The FundamentalsLeft Sided Music2009*This Is Now2010*Quantum LeapsFomp2011*KaisoCulture Shock2011Lauren HendersonBrontosaurus2011*Arnold Lee QuartetLeeandthem2011Afro PhysicistOKeh/DDB2012*Five Colors2013Alana's FantasyCriss Cross Jazz2015A La MadrugadaBrontosaurus2015*Short HistoryBlu Jazz2016Dreams and DaggersMack Avenue2017*A Thing Called JoeSunnyside2018ÁrmameBrontosaurus2018*In the Blue LightLegacy2018*The WindowMack Avenue2019Alma OscuraBrontosaurus2019*Terrible AnimalsCriss Cross Jazz2020The Songbook SessionBrontosaurus2020Classic ChristmasBrontosaurus2020What Comes NextSmoke Sessions2020–21 Ghost SongNonesuch2021MusaBrontosaurus2022*12 StarsBlue Note 2022*Standards From FilmCriss Cross Jazz 2023A Joyful HolidayVerve2026With Every Breath I TakeNonesuch
References