“His fundamentals could not be stronger… An artist with his own distinct style.” – The New York Times
For the past decade, GRAMMY-winning jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner has been stretching his deep-rooted talents as a pianist, composer, band leader, and uncompromising individualist. Playing solo or leading an orchestra, Fortner engages harmony and rhythmic ideas through curiosity and clarity. The highly-sought improviser has performed across the country and throughout the world at such cultural institutions as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jazz Standard, Smalls Jazz Club, Snug Harbor and Sweet Lorraine’s, and the Newport and Monterey Jazz Festivals; and has collaborated with Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Diane Reeves, John Scofield, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stefon Harris, Billy Hart, Fred Hersch, and the late Roy Hargrove, among others. This past year, Fortner earned recognition in multiple DownBeat Critics Poll categories, winning first place in Rising Star Piano and Rising Star Jazz Artist.