BIX TOP ACT: Sullivan Fortner Trio

Southern Nights - live - "Southern Nights", the latest album by Grammy Award-winning pianist Sullivan Fortner, was released on February 14, 2025.

Recorded during an unforgettable week-long residency at New York's legendary Village Vanguard in the summer of 2023, "Southern Nights" showcases Fortner's artistry at the peak of his career, accompanied by the great Peter Washington on bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums.
In July 2023, Sullivan Fortner returned to New York City's legendary Village Vanguard for his second week-long residency as bandleader. Tasked with forming a trio of extraordinary musicians, Fortner brought together bassist Peter Washington and drummer Marcus Gilmore for a truly stellar week of performances. Their connection - unprepared yet seamless - culminated in an impromptu recording session that same week that captured the magic of their collaboration. The resulting album, "Southern Nights," is a vivid testament to Fortner's artistry and his New Orleans heritage.

"There is something about the music of New Orleans that goes beyond distinctive rhythms. It's an unqualified respect for the porous nature of the music, a willingness to mingle, blend and breathe. You can hear this generosity and exuberant joy in every note Fortner plays." Recorded with veteran engineer Todd Whitelock, "Southern Nights" captures the trio's fast, intuitive interplay. Their dynamic chemistry is evident in an eclectic setlist, from the post-bop dexterity of Donald Brown's "Waltz for Monk" to the reflective depth of Bill Lee's "Again Never."

Fortner's trio is accompanied in spirit by the rich musical tradition of New Orleans, with allusions to Cuban influences in Osvaldo Farres' "Tres Palabras" and the timeless connection between jazz and Caribbean sounds. "New Orleans is the tip of the Caribbean," notes Fortner. "It's definitely not America. The Spanish and Caribbean influences are deeply rooted, and you can hear that in the music."

Line-up: Sullivan Fortner (p); Tyrone Allen II (b); Kayvon Gordon (dr)