Sullivan Fortner’s “Leave That in There”

The Boise Jazz Society has hosted Sullivan Fortner three times: in 2017 (with Cécile McLorin Salvant), in 2019 with his trio, and most recently in 2022, when he was to accompany Salvant, but when she had to cancel, he came with his trio.

We can’t say Fortner was unknown in 2017, but he certainly wasn’t as well known as he is now. In 2016, after all, he was listed in DownBeat’s “25 for the Future.” And I guess DownBeat got it right. He’s since received three Grammy Awards, including the 2026 Best Jazz Instrumental Grammy for “Southern Nights. Also in 2026, he won the Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) Award for Pianist of the Year and was presented with the Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award.

And in July, Fortner announced his next album, “Leave That in There,” to be released August 28 on Artwork Records. You can currently preview two tracks online: “Que Diablos” and “Number 3.”

Que Diablos starts out with a steady, repetitive piano accented by the drum rim shots and cymbals. As the short tune progresses, Fortner takes exploratory side trips that tickle and surprise the ears but always returns to the steady beat.

If Que Diablos stays on the main road, “Number 3” is the opposite. Fortner starts off-road and stays there, giving the listener an inventive and quirky trip that keeps you listening to see what comes next. There is no set road and no set destination. The artists make their own road, and the result is a wonderful piece that keeps you engaged. Every time you listen to it, you discover something else.

If these two songs are representative of the entire album, we’re in for a treat. But listen to the two songs and see what you think.

Artists

—Sullivan Fortner, Piano
—Tyrone Allen, Drums
—Kayvon Gordon, Bass

Tracks

1. Sugarcane
2. Que Diablos
3. A Poignant Time
4. Aerobatics Pt. 1
5. Aerobatics Pt. 2
6. Sorcerer’s Stick
7. Swirl
8. T295
9. Number 3
10. 12 Gallons
11. Aria II
12. A Hymn for Linda
13. Another Poignant Time