Opening Night: Sullivan Fortner Solo Game

The evening will begin with a celebratory dinner honoring Larry J. Bell at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, followed by a rare and captivating solo performance by 2026 Larry J. Bell Artist Award Recipient Sullivan Fortner. Fresh off receiving the inaugural Bell Artist Award, Fortner revisits the spirit of his Grammy-nominated album Solo Game — a kaleidoscopic journey across acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B-3 organ, and other keyboards. Blending jazz, gospel, and modern improvisation, Fortner moves fluidly between soulful lyricism and bold harmonic exploration, revealing why he’s regarded as one of today’s most imaginative and expressive voices in jazz.

You may also like the following events from Gilmore Piano Festival:

• This May, 1st May, 07:00 pm, From Cliburn to Kantorow: A Celebration of Tchaikovsky in Kalamazoo
• This May, 2nd May, 02:00 pm, Right in the Eye — Family Concert in Kalamazoo
• This May, 2nd May, 07:00 pm, Cyrus Chestnut Trio | 7 pm in Kalamazoo

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