Events

Sullivan Fortner, piano

Tyrone Allen II, double bass

Kayvon Gordon, drums

 

Born and raised in New Orleans, two-time GRAMMY Award winner Sullivan Fortner is one of today’s most acclaimed jazz pianists, known for blending tradition with bold innovation in his contemporary sound.

 

He comes to the Small Hall of Lisinski with his trio, riding the wave of his recently released and widely praised album Southern Nights, which showcases masterful performances infused with the musical spirit of New Orleans, tinged with Cuban influences and a timeless connection between jazz and Caribbean sounds.

 

In addition to being a pianist, Sullivan Fortner is also a composer, bandleader, producer, and educator. He gained international recognition through his collaboration with multiple GRAMMY winner, vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant.

He has performed on iconic stages such as the Village Vanguard and Jazz at Lincoln Center, and at prestigious jazz festivals including Newport and Monterey. His rich career includes collaborations with music legends and modern greats like Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roy Hargrove, and many others.

 

Joining him are top-tier bassist and electric bassist Tyrone Allen II and Detroit-born drummer Kayvon Gordon.

 

Tyrone Allen II has played alongside giants such as Ralph Peterson, Terri Lyne Carrington, Gerald Clayton, Jazzmeia Horn, and Jerry Bergonzi, and also performs in the award-winning Broadway musical Moulin Rouge.

 

Kayvon Gordon, even before studying at the University of Michigan, was mentored as a child by legendary trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. He has shared the stage with artists like Ravi Coltrane, Robert Hurst, JD Allen, and others. Now based in New York, his music blends the forward-looking spirit of contemporary jazz with the deep tradition of Detroit’s jazz legacy.

 

These three outstanding American musicians, with remarkable musical instincts, are preparing a unique Wednesday at Lisinski concert — a vibrant mix of classical counterpoint and soulful blues, playful ragtime, irresistible rhythms, and imaginative, untamed improvisation that will delight and entertain listeners. As Fortner himself puts it:

 

"The goal is to start to break the barriers of genre. I’m trying to dispel all of these rules and say, 'Look at these songs as just songs and look at music as just music. Get your hands dirty with deconstructing things, with reconstructing things.' We definitely have a good time with it!"