Sullivan Fortner

In the organizer's words:

Over the past decade, Sullivan Fortner has demonstrated his deep-rooted talents as a pianist, composer, bandleader and uncompromising individualist. The GRAMMY Award-winning artist received international praise as a key player and producer for his collaborative work on The Window (Mack Avenue, 2018), alongside multiple GRAMMY winner, singer and composer Cecile McLorin Salvant. Fortner, who now lives in New York, was honored in several categories of the DownBeat Critics Poll and won first place in the Rising Star Piano and Rising Star Jazz Artist categories.

Whether playing solo or leading an orchestra, Fortner explores harmony and rhythmic ideas with curiosity and clarity. He finds universes within phrases, and listeners often hear him moved by every note he explores. Growing up in New Orleans, Fortner began playing piano at the age of 7 and followed a long line of improvisers, masters of the time and every style of blues. He earned his Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory and his Master of Music in Jazz Performance from Manhattan School of Music (MSM).

By bringing together different elements from different eras, Fortner preserves tradition and evolves the sound. He seeks connections between different musical styles that are at once deeply soulful and wildly inventive. Both his works and his insights have been featured in culturally significant publications from The New York Times to The Root. His awards include the 2015 Cole Porter Fellowship from the American Pianists Association, the Leonore Annenberg Arts Fellowship, the 2016 Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists, and the prestigious 2020 Shifting Foundation Grant for the development of his artistic career.

Price information:

https://domicil-dortmund.reservix.de/p/reservix/group/458205