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Sullivan Fortner's 'Southern Nights' is out February 14, 2025 (Artwork) Artwork Records proudly announces the February 14, 2025 release of Southern Nights, the latest album by Grammy-winning pianist Sullivan Fortner. Recorded during an unforgettable weeklong residency at New York’s iconic Village Vanguard in the summer of 2023, Southern Nights showcases Fortner’s artistry at its peak, in the company of the great Peter Washington on bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums. In July 2023, Sullivan Fortner returned to the legendary Village Vanguard in New York City for his second weeklong residency as a bandleader. Tasked with forming a trio of exceptional musicians, Fortner brought together bassist Peter Washington and drummer Marcus Gilmore for a truly outstanding week of performances. Their connection—unrehearsed yet seamless—culminated in a spontaneous recording session that same week that captured the magic of their collaboration. The resulting album, Southern Nights, is a vibrant testament to Fortner’s artistry and New Orleans heritage. Reflecting on the experience, Fortner shared, “I had been a fan of Peter Washington since hearing him play with Bill Charlap when I was in high school. His lyrical approach and sense of groove are everything I admire in a bassist. Marcus Gilmore and I have known each other since high school, and I’ve always been inspired by his unique approach to the drums. It was our first time playing together as a trio, and from the first note, it felt as if we’d been doing so for years.” Southern Nights features a wide-ranging repertoire, including tunes by Allen Toussaint and Clifford Brown, and tributes to his late mentor Bill Lee and Lee’s sister, the underappreciated pianist and educator Consuela Lee and a Fortner original. Recorded live in the studio with no isolation, edits, or retakes, the album channels the raw energy and immediacy of the trio's live sets at the Vanguard. The album's centerpiece is its title track, a reinterpretation of Toussaint’s 1970s classic, a wistful piano-led tribute to magical childhood evenings in rural Louisiana. As music historian Ashley Kahn writes in the liner notes, Fortner’s rendition “returns it to its primary focus on piano, matching wistfulness with youthful joy… capturing the reflective charm that Toussaint’s original and Fortner’s interpretation share.” Kahn also emphasizes Fortner’s New Orleans roots, noting how the city’s unique musical ethos—marked by an openness to tradition and innovation alike—shines through in his playing. “There’s something about the music of New Orleans that goes beyond distinctive rhythms, ” writes Kahn. “It’s an unrestrained respect for music’s porous nature, a willingness to mix, meld, and breathe. You hear that generosity and bubbling joy in every note Fortner plays.” Recorded with veteran engineer Todd Whitelock, Southern Nights captures the trio’s quick, intuitive interplay. Their dynamic chemistry is showcased across 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 joined in spirit by New Orleans’s rich musical lineage, with nods to Cuban influences on Osvaldo Farres’ “Tres Palabras” and the timeless connection between jazz and Caribbean sounds. “New Orleans is at the top of the Caribbean, ” Fortner observes. “It’s definitely not America. The Spanish and Caribbean influences run deep, and you can hear that in the music.” This album stands among iconic piano trio recordings, offering both a snapshot of a moment in time and a promising glimpse of what lies ahead. Fortner’s journey from NOCCA and mentorship under Ellis Marsalis to his ongoing collaborations with luminaries like Cécile McLorin Salvant has solidified his place as one of jazz’s most vital voices. Currently, the pianist is nominated for three GRAMMY Awards, including in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category for his prior Artwork release Solo Game. With Southern Nights, Sullivan Fortner captures the unrepeatable magic of their Vanguard’s sets—an intimate, joyous occasion filled with chance-taking and deep connection. It’s an album that invites listeners to celebrate the past while anticipating a thrilling future for Fortner and his trio. TRACKLIST Southern Nights (Allen Toussaint) I Love You (Cole Porter) 9 Bar Tune (Sullivan Fortner) Tres Palabras (Osvaldo Farres) Waltz for Monk (Donald Brown) Again, Never (Bill Lee) Discovery (Consuela Lee) Daahoud (Clifford Brown) Organ Grinder (Woody Shaw) TOUR DATES EU: 18 Feb: Brno, CZ – Cabaret des Peches 19 Feb: Prague, CZ – Jazz Dock 20 Feb: Regensburg, DE – Regensburg Jazz Club 21 Feb: Munich, DE – Unterfahrt 22 Feb: Vienna, AT – Konzerthaus 23 Feb: Berlin, DE – Zig Zag Jazz Club 25 Feb: Dortmund, DE – Domicil 26 Feb: Hamburg, DE – Laeiszhalle 27 Feb: Amsterdam, NL – Bimhuis 28 Feb: Tilburg, NL – Paradox 01 Mar: Rotterdam, NL – Lantaren 02 Mar: Groningen, NL – Oosterpoort 04 Mar: Dorking, UK – Watermill Jazz 05 Mar: London, UK – Ronnie Scott’s 07 Mar: Brussels, BE – Bozar 08 Mar: Vincennes, FR – Espace Sorano 09 Mar: Terassa, ES – Nova Jazz Cava / Terassa Jazz Festival US: 06 Jan: St. Louis, MO – Open Studio 28 Jan & 04 Feb: Fort Lauderdale, FL – Jazz Cruise 12 Mar: La Jolla, CA – Athenaeum Music & Arts Library 13 Mar: Berkeley, CA – Zellerbach Playhouse 14 Mar: Davis, CA – John Bruno House Concerts 15 Mar: San Francisco, CA – San Francisco Conservatory of Music 17 Mar: Santa Cruz, CA – Kuumbwa Jazz Center 19 Mar: Miami Beach, FL – Faena Theater 20 Mar: Orlando, FL – Dr. Phillips Center Presents 21 Mar: Hilton Head Island, SC – The Jazz Corner 23 Mar: Morrow, GA – Spivey Hall at Clayton State University 01 Apr: New York, NY – Village Vanguard 19 Apr: Cincinnati, OH – Caffé Vivace | Coffee House, Jazz Lounge 21 Apr: Lawrence, KS – University of Kansas 23 Apr: Indianapolis, IN – The Jazz Kitchen 30 Apr: Toronto, ON – Koerner Hall |
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