Sullivan Fortner (1986) was a pianist in trumpeter Roy Hargrove's band from 2010 to 2017. He received two Grammy Awards: Best Jazz Vocal Album for The Window with partner Cécile McLorin Salvant, a frequent collaborator, and Best Jazz Performance with singer Samara Joy for the song Twinkle Twinkle Little Me this year. Fortner grew up in New Orleans, and was already playing the piano by the age of four; inspired after witnessing a woman play the organ in a local church. He then successfully auditioned for the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, and earned a master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music. A boundless belief in swing and the power of the blues form the basis of his piano playing. In the 2024 DownBeat Critics Poll, he topped the Rising Star Jazz Group of the Year category, together with his trio. His fourth album, Southern Nights, was released earlier this year.
