Vic's, May 1-2
This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with jazz pianist, vocalist, and bandleader Danny Sinoff, performing at Vic’s May 1–2. With a style rooted in tradition and driven by storytelling, Danny is part of a new generation keeping the Great American Songbook alive—and swinging.
In this engaging conversation, Danny shares insights into his upcoming album Make Someone Happy, including his collaboration with Benny Benack III and working with three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. He talks about his early shift from classical music to jazz, influenced by legends like Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin—and how that spark turned into a lifelong passion.
Danny also reveals how he carefully selected songs for the album, including a surprising classic made famous by Tony Bennett that he never expected to record. He discusses why the Great American Songbook continues to resonate across generations, emphasizing that “lyrics really make the melody come alive.”
Plus, Danny reflects on his commitment to presentation—always performing (and even recording) in a suit—his memorable introduction to Las Vegas, and the moment he was inspired watching Harry Connick Jr. on “Saturday Night Live.” Above all, he shares his love for ballads and the powerful connection between performer and audience.
ABOUT DANNY:
Danny Sinoff is a jazz pianist, singer, and bandleader who has spent more than 20 years performing the Great American Songbook in clubs, concert halls, and restaurants throughout Southwest Florida and beyond. A working musician in the truest sense, he has played thousands of nights, the bandstand being his truest and most longstanding teacher.
He has performed and recorded with tenor saxophonist and flutist David “Fathead” Newman, bassist and trombonist Chris Brubeck, drummer Dan Brubeck, organist Jimmy McGriff, guitarists Russell Malone and Paul Bollenback, drummers Joe Farnsworth, Herlin Riley, and Ulysses Owens Jr., trumpeter and vocalist Benny Benack III, tenor saxophonist Jerry Weldon, bassist Ben Wolfe, and trumpeter Joe Magnarelli.