Ginny Carr Goldberg

“Remarkably clever…Impressive Writing…This is the work of someone who knows her way around a composition. Each song has its moments and begs to become part of a standard repertoire.” - All About Jazz

“It was the multi-talented Ginny Carr who, a half dozen or so years ago wrote a lyric couplet that has stuck in my brain ever since, and here she is again, this time in her role as prime mover of the UVJQ – writing all the songs and managing all the arrangements. Her lyrics are full of gentle ironies and surprising twists. She’s a singer/songwriter several cuts above the general run of many who advertise themselves as such.” - Alan Bargebuhr, Cadence Magazine

“You’re EVERYTHING, the whole package. Your lyrics, music, arrangements… fantastic! My new discovery. ” - Richie Cole, legendary jazz saxophonist

“You are a knockout songwriter and the group is fabulous. Ginny: you are a whiz, a star, a revelation!” - Bob Dorough, legendary jazz singer/songwriter

“Ginny Carr is a chanteuse determined to re-write our beloved American Songbook. This is the real deal!! Her original renditions are punctuated & tempered by a great depth of expressive vocalise which one can assume is balanced by both journeyman maturity & hard work. The frosting is the realization that all that you hear is from her composer’s heart & soul. Could Ginny be our new real time national treasure? Super stuff….” - George W. Carroll, The Musician's Ombudsman 

“IT'S EASY TO cheer a jazz artist for recording original material instead of jumping on the crowded “Great American Songbook” bandwagon. Easy, that is, until midway through the recording you find yourself wishing for something half as smart as Cole Porter or half as lyrical as Rodgers and Hart. Fortunately, Ginny Carr’s new CD, “After All These Years,” doesn’t leave you wishing for anything other than more of the same. A Washington-based singer-songwriter and pianist well-known for her work with the Uptown Jazz Vocal Quartet, Carr clearly has invested a lot of time and all of her talents in this project, and it’s paid off nicely. Her lyrics are always several cuts above the average, which is evident from the outset when she unveils the sultry charmer “Love Me Till It Hurts” and muses: “This will never go/How the Brothers Grimm foretold.” But it’s not just impressive songwriting that makes this 15-track collection a no-nap zone. Carr has framed her appealing and flexible voice with delightful and often swinging piano-based arrangements.” - Mike Joyce, The Washington Post

 "It’s really gotten to the point where it’s almost impossible to find a vocal CD that doesn’t feature standards anymore. Three cheers, therefore, to vocalist/pianist Ginny Carr, who has written each of the songs on her remarkably clever After All These Years. Blessed with a sugary voice that has a slight wink in the eye, Carr and her air-tight band swing as a unit, allowing enough space for dynamic group interplay and soloing. But the selling point of this CD is the impressive writing, particularly the lyrics. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song that rhymed a lyric with “foment” before, but there it is in “Love Me Till it Hurts.” Ditto for the ingenious working of “upheaval” with “primeval.” This is the work of someone who knows her way around a composition. Each song has it’s moments, and beg to become part of a standard repertoire.” -  George Harris, All About Jazz

"Some things happen organically in the strangest ways. The vet sax man that was one of Manhattan Transfer’s secret weapons stumbled upon the DC vocal quartet and flipped. Almost like a hidden time piece that escaped from the vaults after hiding in a corner for years, this killer jazz vocal set hits all the right notes and will be tickling your fancy before you know what’s happened. Killer stuff so thoroughly in the pocket, hearing almost isn’t believing. It’s that hot.” - Chris Spector, Editor and Publisher, Midwest Record 

“There are a plethora of vocal groups working the jazz scene that simply bang out some old school standards with little originality and minimal soul. Vocal Madness is a breath of fresh air with tight harmonies drawn from a brilliant color palette of sound and harmonic texture. The vast majority of the release are original compositions with arrangements that are seemingly hand crafted for each member. The vibrant pop of the swing found in “Take Me Away” is the perfect compliment to the exquisite ballad “DC Farewell.” This is not a release of swing for the sake of swing but a harmonic exploration of vocal possibilities with tunes that are remarkably personal and allow the listener to come along for the ride. The voices will give you goose bumps, the arrangements will grab your ear while the stories will touch your heart. A tremendous effort once again from The Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet with Vocal Madness!” -  Brent Black, CriticalJazz  

“I’ve been wondering where the bebop voices had gone and Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet is the current answer to this missing musical link. Richie Cole adds zest and authenticity to this project, bringing along his historic participation in the development of early bebop singing and passing on that legacy to this project. Ginny Carr stands out as an arranger/composer on several of these original songs and Richie Cole shines in the prolific composing department as well. These four vocalists sound like a small choir: rich, lush and harmonically innovative.” -  Dee Dee McNeill, LA Jazz

“Exceptional tight-harmony group … symmetry and individual vocals that blend so well. Yes, they really are that good and worthy of serious attention. We need what they offer… They’ve got it. They are carrying the torch.” - John Hoglund, Cabaret Scenes Magazine

“Clever and swinging and completely uncontrived.” -  George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly

"Vocal Madness by Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet is intelligent, incredibly tight, and, frankly, perfect jazz singing. The original material is worthy of the same praise. Richie Cole, alto legend and unofficial 5th member of Manhattan Transfer, is everywhere on this recording. Easy enough to draw the conclusion, but if you ask Richie he will tell you that Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet “Has it.” Says it all. Richie was right. Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet has massive amounts of “It.”- Steve Martin, host of 'The Real Jazz Conversation,' WOBO, Cincinnati

“Forget the old standards. These tight harmonies and hand-crafted lyrics will have you believing they’ve been around for forever.” - Doug Boynton, 62nd Street Jazz
 

“Old school moving to new cool. As versatile and entertaining as any vocal group you may hear. The Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet takes their original influences of some iconic masters and transforms them into their own unique flavor and unforgettable sound.” - Brent Black, CriticalJazz

“Decades in the future, if there is any justice, some critic is going to be writing that a new vocal group reminds him of UVJQ. They indeed are making the form their own…They are remarkable vocalists who blend stylish harmonies with dynamic solos in a format that parallels that of the typical instrumental jazz quartet.” - Jack Goodstein, Blogcritics.org 

“Your stuff is fantastic. I’m in love with your music.” - Rich Germaine, President, Jazz Radio Network