Danny Sinoff

Danny Sinoff Biography:

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Danny Sinoff began private classical piano lessons at the young age of four years old. When he was eleven, he moved with his family to Naples, FL, and continued his classical studies, going on to win local and regional piano competitions and later getting his first gig at the age of 13. When he was 14, his father gave him a Harry Connick Jr. CD along with a Bobby Darin compilation and Danny fell instantly in love with the power of a swinging Big Band and the singing and interpretation of the Great American Songbook, later discovering bebop and modern jazz. Soon after, he realized that being a musician was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

After spending some time at Boston’s Berklee College of Music in 2000, Danny returned to Southwest Florida and began gigging full time in the region, most notably leading a group with the late great trumpeter Dan Miller (Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Tom Jones and Woody Herman) at Ellington’s Jazz Club on Sanibel Island and fully establishing himself as a singer, pianist and strong trio and quartet leader in the SWFL jazz scene.

Danny has performed and recorded with David “Fathead” Newman (Ray Charles), The Brubeck Brothers, Jimmy McGriff, Russell Hall, Kyle Poole, Sweet Georgia Brown, Martina DaSilva, Deborah Bowman, Russell Malone, Paul Bollenback, Joe Farnsworth, Herlin Riley, Byron Landham, Ulysses Owens, Jr., Akiko Tsuruga, Joe Magnarelli, Benny Benack III, Hubert Laws, George Coleman, Harry Connick Jr. bassists Ben Wolfe, Neal Caine and tenor saxophonist Jerry Weldon. Danny has also shared the stage many a night with the great tenor saxophonist Lew Del Gatto, a 30-year veteran of NBC’s Saturday Night Live band. Del Gatto performed as a regular part of the Danny Sinoff Quartet on many Saturdays at The Roadhouse Cafe in Fort Myers, FL.
Danny’s vocal influences include Harry Connick Jr., Frank Sinatra, Nat Cole and Freddy Cole, Blossom Dearie, Shirley Horne, Bobby Darin and Tony Bennett. His piano influences include Oscar Peterson, Barry Harris, Red Garland, Ahmad Jamal, Harry Connick Jr., Eric Reed, Bill Charlap, Cedar Walton, Gene Harris, and Benny Green.

Aside from performing all over Florida for over 20 years, Danny has performed in New York City at The Cutting Room, Smoke, The Apollo Theater, BB King’s, Triad, Minton’s and The Alhambra Ballroom, as well as the Syracuse Jazz Festival, the Adirondack Music Festival and the Sun Coast Jazz Classic in Clearwater, FL. As a band Leader, performer, pianist and singer, Danny mesmerizes the crowd with his engaging charisma and command of the stage. This fantastic entertainer never misses the opportunity to connect with his audience and always leaves them on their feet wanting more, from the supper club to the concert hall.

Quotes

“Danny Sinoff is the real deal! I know something about singers, pianists and especially singer- pianists, having worked with everyone from Shirley Horn, Norah Jones, Gregory Porter and Sullivan Fortner including new up and comers like Sarah McKenzie. Musicians from across the nation from NY to LA already know about his gifts with a song and routinely make the trek to come hear and play with the man regularly. And the audiences that pack into his bi- weekly appearances at The Roadhouse Cafe and The London Club know something special is going on, particularly when couples get up and move to the dance floor, something I’ve seen even at concerts he’s given. There is something in the air when this man sings and gets down to business on the piano, and dare I say, it’s magic. South Florida has got a golden secret (for now) but news is already getting out to all points North and West, if the number of nationally ranked top flight bassists, drummers and saxophonists that are showing up to grace the stage with him are any indicator. I predict that the world will soon know what South Florida already knows; they’ve got greatness in their midst that is about to become a household name.” – Brian M Bacchus (Record producer, curator, label A&R )

“To embark on the journey of being a crooner requires an air of sophistication and a touch of class. Not only does Danny exhibit the qualities of a true songsmith, his humanity and drive to be in the echelon of Sinatra and Bennett sets him in a class all his own. – Russell Hall

“Danny Sinoff plays the piano and sings the way i would like to play the drums. Happy, joyous and free. That comes from years of trying to master your craft. #timetoswing— and sing!” – Joe Farnsworth

“WHILE clearly influenced by legends Bobby Darin ,et al, Danny is very much his own man; bringing his OWN voice to the Great American Songbook…a “keeper of the flame!”” –Jerry Weldon