Upswing: Sullivan Fortner

Grammy Award-winning pianist Sullivan Fortner makes his Miner Auditorium bandleader debut with his "exquisitely calibrated trio," as part of Terence Blanchard's Upswing Series designed to spotlight artists ready for the spotlight. The New Orleans piano maestro brings his distinctive "supple, celebratory Crescent City sensibility" to SFJAZZ, where he previously captivated audiences in duo with Cécile McLorin Salvant and delivered three sublime solo sets celebrating Thelonious Monk's birthday.

Fortner's music seamlessly traverses more than a century of American music, blending bebop sophistication with stride piano, blues, gospel, and the rhythmic complexity of his New Orleans roots. His trio with bassist Tyrone Allen and drummer Kayvon Gordon operates without sheet music, teaching everything by ear and never rehearsing—just sound checks and gigs. This intuitive approach creates performances full of spontaneous surprises, where Fortner might pull musical fake-outs on the audience or weave in unexpected quotes from Bud Powell's "Parisian Thoroughfare" mid-flight.

Expect an evening of musical conversation and humor. Fortner charms audiences by swinging around on his piano stool between songs, sharing stories and introducing tunes by reciting entire sets of lyrics. His "box of wood" becomes a vehicle for everything from blazing bebop to classical adaptations like Gabriel Fauré's "Au Bord de L'eau," which he transforms so completely you'd never guess its origins. The trio's recent performances have drawn raves for their inventive approach to standards, with critics noting Fortner's "aggressive, percussive approach" where "rhythm and texture stand out more than melody or harmony."

Fortner's latest album "Southern Nights"—a tribute to New Orleans composer Allen Toussaint—earned him the 2024 Grammy for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. The trio was also named Rising Star Jazz Group in DownBeat's 2024 Critics Poll. This SFJAZZ performance, originally filmed on April 25, promises the kind of musical magic that has made Fortner one of jazz's most universally revered pianists, balancing technical virtuosity with an understated warmth that makes complex music feel like an intimate conversation.