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Sullivan Fortner: Solo Game

By Mike Jurkovic
January 6, 2024
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Mentored by

Fred Hersch

piano
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Fred Hersch and

Jason Moran

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Moran, and produced by Hersch, Solo Game puts pianist

" data-original-title="" title="">Sullivan Fortner in a really good place. That is before the music even starts. Then it does start with a sly and subdued solo on Stevie Wonder's buoyant 1973 top tenner, "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing," while dropping subtle hints to the trip ahead, forged by Fortner's quixotic self.

Fortner, who has steadily grown a discography which includes his own quartet recording Aria (Impulse!, 2015), a seven year stint with

Roy Hargrove

trumpet
1969 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Roy Hargrove, and choice sessions with Paul Simon,

Cecile McLorin Salvant

vocals
b.1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecile McLorin Salvant (who adds her ethereal magic to the "Tubular Bells" like "Snakes and Ladders"), and

Melissa Aldana

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Melissa Aldana just to name a few. With his perfect pitch and classic stride approach, the pianist has a long and illustrious career ahead of him.

An autumnally seasoned approach to Richard Rodgers' "I Didn't Know What Time it Was" belies Fortner's age. There is a clear sense of yearning yet knowing the years reveal as they will. Hersch's production is pristine, throwing light on Fortner's clearly articulated vision—a new and most assured take on things of beauty over convenience, things with eternal presence.

The pianist does what all great artists, innovators, and true creators (not Tik Tok spin offs) do; they challenge themselves and rise well above said challenge. So,

Randy Weston

piano
1926 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Randy Weston's "Congolese Children" sounds fully conceived and of a piece, as does

Antonio Carlos Jobim

piano
1927 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Carlos Jobim's luscious "Once I Loved." Fortner is so aware of those who have mastered the keys before him that, by the time we get to singularly malleable romps through Neil Hefti's bouncing "Cute" and Kurt Weill's neo-ragtime "This Is New," visions of

Art Tatum

piano
1909 - 1956

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Tatum and

Bud Powell

piano
1924 - 1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Bud Powell are dancing in our heads.

These solo ventures can get over-wrought at times—think of young

Keith Jarrett

piano
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Jarrett's one man Restoration Ruin (Vortex, 1968)—but Solo Game for the greater part avoids those youthful pratfalls. Though it does have its wrought moments, such as "It's A Game"—the second track on Disc Two—it runs a bit too long, predictably. Here the pianist takes on a host of instruments including vibes, celeste, chime tree, Moog, Vocoder, Rain Maker, Hammond B3, and egg shaker. Fully composed by Fortner, the brooding Shaft-like undertow "Snakes and Ladders" falls victim to, once again, its length. "Hounds and Jackals" on the other hand, is too short. "Space Walk " is. well, the new generation watching 2001: A Space Odyssey. But, given the gravity and the gravitas of Solo Game, this is really nitpicking. These two discs are beyond question worth the time it takes to get pulled into their gracious and sustainable orbit.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

CD 1:
Don't You Worry About a Thing; I Didn't Know What Time It Was; Congolese Children; I'm All Smiles; Invitation; Once I Loved; Cute; This Is New; Come Sunday.
CD 2:
Power Mode; It's a Game; Snakes and Ladders; Hounds and Jackal; King's Table; Stag; Cross and Circle; Space Walk; Valse Du Petit Chien; Fred Hersch, Notes on Solo; Jason Moran, Notes on Game.

Personnel

Sullivan Fortner

piano

Additional Instrumentation

Sullivan Fortner: Piano (Steinway B), Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3 Organ, Vibes, Celeste, Chime Tree, Moog, Vocoder, Rain Maker, Hand Percussion, Egg Shaker, Triangle, Vocals, Hand Claps, Shakers, Canopus Bass Drum, Mongolian Gong (2); Kyle Pool: hand claps on (2-2); Cecile McLorin Salvant: vocals on (2-3).

Album information

Title: Solo Game | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Artwork

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Sullivan Fortner Concerts

Oct 16 Thu

Sullivan Fortner Trio

Blue Note
Milano, Italy

Mar 7 Sat

Sullivan Fortner Trio

Miller Theatre at Columbia University
New York, NY

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