Sullivan Fortner

Sullivan Fortner, born December 29, 1986, in New Orleans, is one of the most distinguished jazz pianists of his generation. Raised in a musically rich environment – his mother directed the choir of a Baptist church – he began playing the organ at age seven. He earned a Bachelor's degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a Master's in Jazz Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. From 2010 to 2017, he served as the regular pianist in Roy Hargrove's band, building his international reputation. As a leader, he released the acclaimed albums "Aria" (2015) and "Moments Preserved" (2018) on Impulse! Records, followed by "Solo Game" (2024, four stars in DownBeat) and "Southern Nights" (2025, February DownBeat cover, recorded with his trio at the Village Vanguard). Fortner has won three Grammy Awards: in 2019 for Best Jazz Vocal Album alongside Cécile McLorin Salvant ("The Window"), in 2025 for Best Jazz Performance with Samara Joy, and in 2026 for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. His style fuses post-bop tradition with harmonic depth and rhythmic precision, always rooted in the improvisational culture of New Orleans.