Sullivan Fortner

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. He started playing the piano from the age of four.

Later life and career

In 2009, Fortner was part of vibraphonist Stefon Harris' band, including for a tour of Europe. Fortner became strongly influenced by fellow pianist Barry Harris from 2011, when he realised that his knowledge of the music was too shallow. 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".

In early 2015, Fortner's quartet contained saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, bassist Ameen Saleem and drummer Jeremy "Bean" Clemons. 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 2016: DownBeat magazine: "25 for the Future" 2020: DownBeat Critics' Poll, Rising Star Arranger 2026: The Gilmore's Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award

Discography An asterisk (*) indicates the year the album was released.

As leader

As sideman