Bio
Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet got its start in the 1980's when pianist/vocalist/composer Ginny Carr met bassist/vocalist Robert McBride joined forces in college theater at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. Soon after, the two formed a vocal group in Richmond, VA and migrated to Washington, DC, where they recast the group, inspired by the ingenious "vocalese" interpretations of instrumental jazz pioneered by such greats as the Manhattan Transfer and Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. Eventually, they joined forces with University of Miami vocal jazz alums Lisanne Lyons and Roger Reynolds and sculpted the signature sound that would define Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet.
The vocal quartet teamed with a group of premier jazz instrumentalists and released two commercial CDs: Half-Past Swing (1999) and When the Sun Goes Down (2002). Half-Past Swing ranked #2 in top jazz sales on Amazon.com in May, 2000.
Holly Bingham replaced Ms. Lyons as Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet's lead voice in 2005.
In 2008, Sony BMG Records (Europe) released a compilation 3-CD Box Set titled Ladies and Gentlemen: The Best of Vocal Jazz. It features a dazzling array of iconic singers and vocal groups who define the jazz genre. Among the featured artists on this special Sony BMG release are Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Carmen McRae, Peggy Lee, Betty Carter, Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Kurt Elling, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, The Manhattan Transfer, Take 6, NY Voices, The Four Freshmen, Lambert/Hendricks/Ross, The Andrews Sisters, The Hi-Lo's, Tuck and Patti, ... and Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet.
Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet has appeared on the headliner stages at international jazz festivals in the company of such iconic artists as Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, Sonny Rollins, the Mingus Big Band, the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Abbey Lincoln, Pete Fountain, Chris Botti, and Branford Marsalis. They have opened in concert for the legendary Four Freshmen, performed concerts in Europe, Canada, and multiple U.S. cities, been profiled on NPR and countless radio programs across the world, appeared as guest artists with symphony orchestras, and entertained at festivals, jazz clubs, and receptions of all kinds. Their fan base continues to expand to all corners of the globe.
Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet's career highlights include:
International Jazz Festivals
- La Nuit du Jazz (Nantes, France), with Cote Ouest Big Band
- Clearwater Jazz Holiday, 25th anniversary international jazz festival (Clearwater, FL)
- Ford Detroit International Jazz Festival (Detroit, MI)
- Ottawa International Jazz Festival (Ottawa, CAN)
Concerts, Festivals, Premier Jazz Clubs
- Festival Miami (FL)
- Four Freshmen Society Convention (VA), opening act for FF
- "Radio From Downtown" (MD), featured musical guest in live show with NPR cast
- Sanibel Big Arts Concert Series (FL)
- Kennedy Center Millennium Stage (DC)
- Blues Alley (DC)
- Smithsonian Jazz Café (DC)
- Richmond Jazz Society (VA)
- Blowing Rock Jazz Society (NC)
- Chestertown Jazz Festival (MD)
- Greensburg Concert Series (PA)
- The Mainstay Concert Hall (MD)
- Gettysburg Concert Series (PA)
- Williamsburg Library Concert Series (VA)
- Bluemont Concert Series (VA)
- Lake Anne Concert Series (VA)
- Reston Town Center Series (VA), opening for and tributes to Charlie Byrd
- Takoma Park Jazz Festival (MD)
- Veteran's Park Jazz Series (MD)
- St. Luke's Jazz in the Garden (DC)
Educational Clinics & Concerts
- Shepherdstown University (WV)
- Harford Community College (MD)
- Tiffin University (OH)
- Old Dominion University (VA)
- Randolph-Macon College (VA)
- Georgetown University (DC)
- Baltimore County Public Schools (MD)
Radio Profiles
- NPR's "Weekend Edition," hosted by Susan Stamberg
- Jazz Smithsonian's "Jazz Singers," hosted by Al Jarreau
- Radio Jazz Copenhagen
- Radio Palermo, Buenos Aires
Symphony Orchestra Pops Concerts
- McLean Orchestra (VA)
- Mary Washington College/Community Orchestra (VA)
Publications
- Taiwan Choral Music Center Newsletter (Taipei, Taiwan)
- The Washington Post
- Four Freshmen Society Newsletter
- Cadence Magazine
- All About Jazz (webzine)
- Jazz Review (webzine)
- Jazz Times
Private Event Clients
- Lions Club of VA
- Washington Bach Consort (DC)
- Alexandria Campagna Center (VA)
- National Academy of Sciences (DC)
- Baltimore Science Museum (MD)
- American College of Physicians (national)
- EDS Corporation (national)
- BDM Corporation (national)
- Keir Associates (DC)
- Sidney's Orchestras (MD)
- Bolger Center (MD)
Vocal Quartet Members:
Ginny Carr (vocals)
Ginny is the leader and co-founder of Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet and has written many of the vocal arrangements that the group has performed over the years, and several original compositions in the group's repertoire. For over 25 years, Ginny has performed regularly as a pianist/vocalist in the Washington D.C. area at clubs, lounges, festivals, and private receptions and has been the featured entertainer at events for such DC notables as Senators Bob Dole and Bill Bradley, former DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe, and the Washington Cherry Blossom Festival. Along with fellow quartet member Robert McBride, Ginny has performed with jazz greats Butch Miles, Chris Vadala, and Chuck Redd, and has opened concerts for Ahmad Jamal, Jimmy Cobb, Charlie Byrd, Keter Betts, Ken Peplowski, the Navy Commodores, and the Air Force Airmen of Note. By day, she works on Capitol Hill as a training designer/developer for the Library of Congress.
Roger Reynolds (vocals)
Roger joined the Quartet as its bass voice in 1999. He is a versatile vocalist, composer, arranger, director, teacher, clinician and adjudicator of vocal ensembles and has taught vocal jazz and coached ensembles at a number of universities and colleges in Florida and Virginia. Roger's professional experience has varied widely from being a chorister with Opera Colorado and the Greater Miami Opera to performing on floats in the King Orange Jamboree Parade in downtown Miami. He has shared the stage with jazz greats Jon Hendricks, Mark Murphy, Chris Vadala and Don Shelton. He has voice-over credits on nine movies and numerous jingles. Roger has fronted many bands and combos and has led musical groups of his own, including an original rock band, a jazz group, an a cappella jazz quintet, and a jazz vocal/guitar duo. He has hosted radio programs in North Carolina, Miami, and Virginia. In addition to performing with UVJQ, Roger currently sings and plays guitar with the Civil War music ensemble, Southern Horizon. Roger is a creative cultivator of artistic and arts appreciation skills in young people. Together with his wife Rachel, he owns and operates Romp n' Roll, a child enrichment center in Richmond, VA.
Holly Bingham (vocals)
Holly joined the Quartet in 2005 as the lead voice. She is a member of the U.S. Army Chorale and a frequent soloist with the various ensembles of the Army Band. Holly has played lead roles in many musical theater productions, has been a featured soloist with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and the City of Fairfax Band, and has performed in concert with such artists as Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Tom Jones, Will Smith, Don McLean, Usher, Bono, Brooks & Dunn, Foreigner, Lou Rawls, Wayne Newton, Kenny Loggins, and Kathy Mattea. She teaches private voice lessons at her home in Northern Virginia.
Robert McBride (vocals)
Robert co-founded the Quartet with Ginny in the early days and has been its tenor voice and frequent "front man" ever since. His unmistakable comic presence and inventive lyrics are hallmarks of the group's engaging presentation. Robert brings to the group a broad range of musical and theatrical experiences. He directed and acted in many main stage and studio productions at The College of William and Mary Theatre, played electric bass and sang in rock and variety bands, and honed his jazz skills playing bass and singing backup to Ginny's lead vocals in society bands through the years leading up to UVJQ. One of his career high points came in 1979 when he performed briefly inside the Fred Flintstone costume at Paramount Kings Dominion. Robert dedicates some of his off-stage time to politics and has been an independent candidate for the Board of County Supervisors in Prince William County, Virginia. By day, he works as a project manager and systems consultant for a private company servicing U.S. Government clients in Washington, DC.
The jazz trio of, Max Murray (bass), Frank Russo (drums), and Alan Blackman (piano) regularly accompany the Vocal Quartet. Other guest artists join the band on special occasions.
