Sullivan Fortner Trio

“His fundamentals as a player could hardly be stronger, and his instincts as a composer and bandleader are almost startlingly mature.” – The New York Times For more than a decade, Sullivan Fortner has been stretching deep-rooted talents as a pianist, composer, bandleader, and uncompromising individualist. The GRAMMY Award-winning artist and recipient of the 2026 Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award has garnered international praise as a leader and a fierce collaborator. Fortner also has earned GRAMMY nods for his 2023 release Solo Game, and his provocative arrangement of “Optimistic Voices/No Love Dying” from Cécile McLorin Salvant’s 2022 release Ghost Song. Pulling distinct elements from different eras, Fortner’s artistry preserves the tradition and evolves the sound. He seeks connections among different musical styles that are at once deeply soulful and wildly inventive. Both his works and his insights have been featured in culture drivers from The New York Times to The Root. The Sullivan Fortner Trio, featuring bassist Tyrone Allen and drummer Kayvon Gordon, was the Winner of the 2024 DownBeat Critics Poll for ‘Rising Star Jazz Group.’ Sullivan Fortner Website Sponsored by A-Train Law (Ticket Includes 5% City of Santa Cruz Admission Tax) .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }