Liner Notes

The idea behind this recording project grew from a simple premise, the true and tested formula of matching the young lion with the elder statesman. The owners of Ellington’s, Jillian Algrin and Sharon Wise, have hosted bi-annual benefit concerts for The Jazz Foundation of America over the last few years. The JFA’s Wendy Oxenhorn organizes these concerts and brings some of the world’s finest jazz and blues musicians to Southwest Florida. Jimmy Norman was one of those legendary performers. The electricity and interplay between Jimmy and Danny was immediately apparent and a live recording was planned. Jimmy returned for a weekend of recording and you hold in your hands the result: a swinging session. Jimmy’s emotional performance on Georgia, his Jon Hendricks & Count Basie inspired version of Going To Chicago Blues and his Billy Eckstine influenced Coquette are tremendous. Danny Sinoff is an immensely talented young artist who possesses a voice that is rich and sonorous and whose phrasing is highly nuanced. Note his gorgeous readings of Imagination and The Shadow of Your Smile. Danny also loves to swing out as his performances of Where or When and Love Is Here To Stay clearly attest. Danny’s love for the genius of the Jimmy Van Heusen and Cole Porter is evident throughout.

Vocalist/songwriter Jimmy Norman has stories to tell, whether in the lyrics of the hundreds of songs he has written over the past 50 years or in a remarkable musical life that's taken him from the dark side of the Chitlin' Circuit to the inner circles of American pop music. Jimmy's songwriting talent led to musical collaborations with such notables as Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Lloyd Price, Lou Rawls and Johnny Nash. While performing in venues extending from the smallest Chitlin' Circuit dives to the stages of the Apollo Theater and Carnegie Hall, Jimmy has appeared with Jerry Lee Lewis, Solomon Burke, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Ben E. King, and Ike & Tina Turner. Later, he would perform around the globe as lead singer of Carl Gardner’s popular group, The Coasters. In 1964, Jimmy wrote lyrics during an Irma Thomas recording session for the R&B classic, Time Is On My Side—later to become a major hit for the Rolling Stones. In 1972, Jimmy was featured vocalist on Eddie Palmieri’s revered Harlem River Drive, a breakthrough Latin-flavored funk album. For more on Jimmy Norman visit www.jimmynorman.net

Danny Sinoff has studied classical piano since the age of two. At the age of 17, Danny discovered jazz and applied his classical technique and creative energy into the art form, later developing his own personal jazz vocal style. Seeking further knowledge of jazz and music in general, Danny attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston pursuing a degree in Piano Performance and Music Technology. Cutting his schooling short at just a year, Danny decided to return to Naples and continue working as a full time musician gaining invaluable experience in the professional working musicians world. His musical influences include Keith Jarrett, Oscar Peterson, Kenny Barron, Brad Mehldau, Benny Green, Bud Powell, Bill Evans, Sarah Vaughan, Wynton Kelly, Harry Connick Jr and Frank Sinatra. Danny has performed with David “Fathead” Newman, Jimmy McGriff and The Brubeck Brothers Quartet.

Trumpeter Dan Miller, originally from Chicago, has lived and worked in New York City since 1991. He spent eleven years (1990-2000) as a member of the Harry Connick Jr Orchestra, traveling the world and recording numerous albums and television specials. Dan also toured internationally and recorded with Wynton Marsalis, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson, Tom Jones and Woody Herman. Dan is a Yamaha Performing Artist. For more on Dan Miller visit www.danmillerjazz.com

Drummer Tim Ruger learned his trade in the nightclubs of his hometown Philadelphia, as well as New York City, Miami, San Juan and Albuquerque. He spent years on the road with The Fantasticks and has worked with John Lewis, Lew Del Gatto, Bobby Shew, Jimmy McGriff and David “Fathead” Newman.

Jay Heavilin is one of Florida’s most in demand jazz bassists. Hailing from Cleveland, Jay has been a fixture on the Florida jazz scene for over twenty years. He has worked with Herbie Mann, David “Fathead” Newman and Jimmy McGriff.

Wendy Oxenhorn is the heart and soul of The Jazz Foundation of America and as it’s Executive Director, she takes personal responsibility for the well-being and welfare of hundreds of jazz and blues musicians. She is an angel and a wonderful blues harpist. For more on The Jazz Foundation of America visit www.jazzfoundation.org

Ellington’s Jazz Bar and Restaurant features live, acoustic jazz music seven nights a week. Ellington’s has presented acclaimed international artists including David “Fathead” Newman, The Brubeck Brothers and Jimmy McGriff. Ellington’s is located on beautiful Sanibel Island at the Sanibel Inn 937 East Gulf Drive Sanibel Island, FL (239)-337-5299. For more on Ellington’s visit www.ellingtonsjazz.com



Discographical Information

1. WHERE OR WHEN 4:00
(Richard Rodgers-Lorenz Hart) Chappell & Co., Inc.
2. LOVE IS HERE TO STAY 4:40
(George & Ira Gershwin) Gershwin Music, Inc.
3. GEORGIA ON MY MIND 5:05
(Hoagy Carmichael-Stuart Gorrell) Peer International Corp.
4. I GET A KICK OUT OF YOU 5:23
(Cole Porter) Harms, Inc.
5. NIGHT AND DAY 7:45
(Cole Porter) Harms, Inc.
6. TOPSY 10:09
(Eddie Durham-Edgar Battle) Vanessa Music Corp.
7. COQUETTE 4:37
(Johnny Green-Gus Kahn-Carmen Lombardo) Lou Feist Music
8. THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE 5:01
(Johnny Mandel-Paul Francis Webster) Marissa Music and EMI Miller Catalog, Inc.
9. COME FLY WITH ME 4:55
(Sammy Cahn-Jimmy Van Heusen) Cahn Music Co.
10. IMAGINATION 7:00
(Johnny Burke-Jimmy Van Heusen) Bourne Co./Music Sales Corp.
11. GOING TO CHICAGO BLUES 9:34
(William "Count" Basie-Jimmy Rushing) WB Music Corp.


DANNY SINOFF--piano & vocals
DAN MILLER--trumpet
TIM RUGER--drums
JAY HEAVILIN--bass
with Special Guests:
JIMMY NORMAN--vocals (# 3, 5, 7, 11)
WENDY OXENHORN--harmonica (# 11)

Produced by JILL ALGRIN & SHARON WISE

Recorded Live at Ellington's Jazz Bar & Restaurant
Sanibel Island, FL
May 18-20, 2006


Cover Art

Danny Sinoff Quartet: Live at Elligton's Volume 2 Back Cover