Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet Reviews

Vocalist Bio's

Ginny is the leader, founder and spokesperson of Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet and has written many of the jazz 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 jazz pianist/vocalist in the Washington metropolitan area at clubs, lounges, festivals, and private receptions and has been the featured entertainer for such notable Washington hosts as Senator Robert Dole, Senator 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. Ginny, a native of Albany, NY, holds a degree in Psychology from the College of William & Mary and a degree in Music from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is employed as an e-Learning Instructional Design Specialist for Booz Allen Hamilton in the suburbs of Washington, DC.

Read more about Singer/Pianist/Songwriter Ginny and her own CD songbook release of originals, "After All These Years": www.ginnycarrmusic.com

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Holly Bingham

A native of Potomac, Maryland, Holly Bingham grew up performing in musical theatre and went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theatre at Syracuse University. Holly is a member of The United States Army Chorale and has been a soloist with all elements of the US Army Band (“Pershing’s Own”) located at Fort Myer, Virginia. Holly has performed at major events throughout the Washington area, including The Millennium Celebration with Kenny Rogers, Tom Jones, Will Smith, Don McLean, Usher, Bono, Brooks & Dunn, and Foreigner. She has sung back-up for Lou Rawls, Wayne Newton, Kenny Loggins, Kathy Mattea, and Dolly Parton. Currently, she is working on a CD project of her original songs, scheduled for release in 2005. When not performing with the Army and Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet, Holly teaches private voice and piano lessons in Arlington, Virginia, where she lives with her husband, Terry, a trumpet player in the US Army Concert Band.

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Robert McBride

Robert is a founding member of Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet. He and Ginny joined forces in the 1980’s to create a fledgling vocal quartet, which grew into the present incarnation of UVJQ. 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. With Ginny, Robert 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, the Navy Commodores and the Air Force Airmen of Note. 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, Robert works as an IT Process Analyst, whatever that is. Robert was married for 15 years to Laura Anderson, of Illinois. Laura was a world renowned band director and music educator until her death on Jan. 2, 2006, of cancer.

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Roger Reynolds

Roger is a versatile vocalist, composer, arranger, leader, and teacher. He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from U. of Miami in Studio Music and Jazz Voice Performance. At UM, he sang in and acted as assistant director of the award-winning jazz ensemble Jazz Vocal I, taught private lessons, directed the group Jazz Vocal III, and coached numerous small ensembles. He also taught voice and directed the vocal jazz ensemble at Florida Atlantic University and taught jazz voice at a community college in Richmond, VA. Roger’s professional experience has varied from 4 seasons as a chorister with Opera Colorado and the Greater Miami Opera to performing on 3 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. In 1999-2000 Roger hosted a commercial radio program in North Carolina before moving to the Washington, DC area. Currently, Roger is teaching at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. You can also hear him hosting "Jazz-N-Stuff" on Ashland's WHAN Radio (AM1430). Roger lives with his wife, Rachel, and baby daughter, C.J., in Ashland, VA.

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