Danny Sinoff’s Swinging Holiday Singles: It’s All About The Warmth

By Morgan Enos

 

At its core, Make Someone Happy — the Boston-born, Florida-bred singer-pianist Danny Sinoff’s debut 2026 album — is not just about happy-making; it’s about the primacy of trust. Specifically, the trust Sinoff shared with fellow pianist Tyler Henderson, who drummer-producer Ulysses Owens Jr. enlisted to take over on the piano bench on four songs, rendering Sinoff solely the singer along with drummer Owens, bassist Ben Wolfe, guitarist Dan Wilson, and trumpeter Joe Magnarelli.

 

Though something of a gambit — given Sinoff is a proud purveyor of the singing pianist tradition — it paid off, and Henderson rejoined in the same configuration — along for a pair of holiday singles: Irving Berlin’s “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” and Frank Loesser’s “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”.

 

While the holiday jazz market isn’t typically known for its subtlety, Sinoff is all subtlety — right down to the choices of material, neither of which even mention Christmas; rather, it carries the atmosphere, and feeling, of the season. When the slate is wiped clean, when resolutions are made to be broken, when families and friends and romance reshuffle. By not going full “Jingle Bells” with the programming, the rich-baritoned Sinoff shows there’s still creative gas in the tank when it comes to yuletide classics.

 

“I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” — enhanced by a preternaturally swinging arrangement from saxophonist Jerry Weldon — tiptoes in on the easy amble of Henderson’s piano and a nimble, walking bassline from Wolfe. Against that backdrop, Sinoff irresistibly conjures a domestic scene with your main squeeze. (Or, should you happen to fly solo this holiday season — think of anyone or anything you love most in this world.) “Hey, I’ve got no overcoat,” Sinoff sings with a swing and a kick. “I’m burning with love.” The crackling rhythm section only tosses tinder on the flame.

 

Sinoff slows it down for a luminous “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”, showing his easy facility with a ballad — personal, a tasteful dash of vibrato, easily placed within the lineage of the great male vocal singers (Sinatra, Bennett, and beyond) without being beholden to it. Therein, Weldon’s saxophone effortlessly buoys a bittersweet, blue Sinoff.

 

Like “Black Coffee,” which moodily concludes Make Someone Happy, this version of “New Year’s Eve?” is low and slow — the nights getting longer as November creeps into December. But the throughline of Sinoff’s work — honed during years of long nights, eye to eye with the audience, standards taking shape in low light — may be that we’re not alone.

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Morgan Enos is a music journalist whose work has been featured in JazzTimes, GRAMMY.com, Fortune, Billboard, Tracking Angle, and many other platforms.

 

TESTIMONIALS

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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 New York 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.

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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.

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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.

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—Brian M Bacchus
Record producer, curator, label A&R

 

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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.

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—Russell Hall

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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

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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