For those unaware, the idea for Make Someone Happy all began when Danny Sinoff hired Ulysses Owens, Jr. to play drums on a concert with him in Fort Myers, FL. Sinoff had been thinking about trying to get Ulysses on the bandstand with him for some time and was thrilled when he accepted the gig; he had always admired the joy in his playing and his swing.

They had a wonderful concert, and in the days after the show, Ulysses tossed out the idea of producing a record for Sinoff, and of course he was thrilled!

After a few months and a harrowing process of them narrowing down the material for the album, Ulysses assembled a band of who’s-who in the jazz world including Ben Wolfe, Dan Wilson, Jerry Weldon, Joe Magnarelli, Benny Benack III and Tyler Henderson.

Many of the albums that resonate deeply with Sinoff (and many others) are an ode to love - lost love, unrequited love, and new love. Much of this music lyrically deals with that. Really in any genre, but certainly predominantly in American Songbook and jazz and, of course, the blues.

Along with the great joy, Sinoff also experienced the love and loss firsthand; they were some of the worst feelings he has said he believes that a human can feel, and boy was he blindsided; and thus it has forever helped to shape the music for him.

1. Taking A Chance On Love [04:18]
2. I Left My Heart In San Francisco [02:45]
3. Three Little Words [02:26]
4. All I Need Is The Girl [05:36]
5. Make Someone Happy [02:20]
6. I Won’t Dance [04:44]
7. Mood Indigo [04:27]
8. I’m An Old Cowhand [03:59]
9. Charade [03:51]
10. Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word [03:45]
11. Black Coffee [04:39]

Having spent more than 20 years performing the Great American Songbook in clubs, concert halls, and restaurants throughout Florida, New York City, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, and beyond, Sinoff opens his indulgently supreme new recording on the resplendent Taking A Chance On Love and the soulful I Left My Heart In San Francisco and then we get the perky Three Little Words, the bluesy All I Need Is The Girl and then we are gifted the decadent title cut Make Someone Happy.

Along next is the low slung ambiance of I Won’t Dance and a dutifully affecting Mood Indigo and they are in turn backed seamlessly by the Westernly-hued I’m An Old Cowhand, the spirited fare of Charade, the new set rounding out on the pure elegance of Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word, coming to a close on the impassioned Black Coffee.

Musicians:
Danny Sinoff- Piano/Vocal
Ulysses Owens Jr.- Drums/Producing
Ben Wolfe- Bass
Dan Wilson- Guitar
Tyler Henderson- Piano
Benny Benack iii- Trumpet/Vocal
Joe Magnarelli- Trumpet
Jerry Weldon- Tenor

Official Purchase Link