KALAMAZOO, MI — Grammy-winning jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner Jr. became the recipient of the largest financial award ever given to a jazz artist this past week after receiving the inaugural 2026 Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award.
The $300,000 award was made possible by an $8.8 million gift from the Bell’s Beer founder to The Gilmore’s endowment in 2022.
The award will support Fortner in his musical and career goals over the next four years…