Ginny Carr is the leader/founder, musical director, alto vocalist, and principal songwriter/arranger for the internationally acclaimed Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet (UVJQ). She has emerged as a composer, lyricist and vocal arranger of distinction, especially for her signature original compositions on UVJQ’s 2012 CD, “Hustlin’ for a Gig”, and the group’s newest release, “Vocal Madness” (a collaboration with sax legend Richie Cole). Reviewers have praised Ginny’s work as a standout for its creative originality and have described her delightfully literate lyrics, elegant melodies, and tight vocal harmony arrangements as “vocalese at its best” and “old school moving to new cool.”

The iconic saxophonist Richie Cole first heard Ginny’s original music, lyrics, and arrangements in 2012 and immediately declared her “My new discovery, the whole package.” Richie, who has worked extensively with The Manhattan Transfer and been a featured soloist on their Grammy-winning albums “Vocalese,” “Mecca for Moderns,” and “Extensions”, instantly recognized the audience appeal, originality, and vocal sizzle of UVJQ and Ginny’s songwriting and arranging talents. A lover of jazz vocal harmonies and a prolific songwriter himself, Richie invited Ginny to arrange his own songs for UVJQ and collaborate with him on a recording featuring their collective original songs. Vocal Madness (released Nov. 2014) is a rich compilation of original songs by both Richie Cole and Ginny Carr, with arrangements by Ginny.

Hustlin’ for a Gig, comprised almost entirely of Ginny’s original songs and arrangements written for jazz vocal quartet, rose to the Billboard Top 25 Jazz Albums Chart twice in 2012. It also appeared for multiple weeks on the Amazon’s Top Seller list, was selected as a Washington Post Editor’s Pick and received many other accolades of distinction. After the album’s release, NPR invited UVJQ in for a Performance Chat with Susan Stamberg, the second time the group has been interviewed by NPR after a successful CD release. The broadcast was aired on NPR’s “Weekend Edition” and heard by millions worldwide.

In 2014, UVJQ performed as headliners and Ginny presented songwriting master classes at the long-running DeMiero Jazz Festival in the Seattle area. The “Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet Series” featuring Ginny’s songs and arrangements is included in the Sound Music Publications catalog of music for professional and school vocal jazz ensembles, published by Festival founder and Vocal Jazz education pioneer, Frank DeMiero.

Ginny is a featured artist on “Behind The Mic,” an internationally popular site dedicated to group vocal jazz. It spotlights interviews with some of the renowned innovators, including Bobby McFerrin, The Manhattan Transfer, The Real Group, and other great vocal jazz artists and arrangers. Ginny is featured in a video interview describing how and why UVJQ sings the music they perform, including her originals, and how it all came about.

UVJQ has been played and profiled on countless radio programs worldwide, including Satellite Radio’s Jazz Channel, Pandora Radio, and Radio Jazz Smithsonian. Ginny’s original songs have been licensed for soundtrack use by industry leaders in film, TV, and advertising and one of her songs has been featured in the primetime TV series “The Finder.” Japan’s exclusive “LA Sound” catalog has also included the group’s recordings.

Under Ginny’s leadership, UVJQ has performed on the headliner stages at landmark jazz festivals in Ottawa, Detroit, Miami, and Clearwater, alongside jazz greats Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, Sonny Rollins, and many others. They have performed multiple times with the Cote Ouest Big Band at France’s “Nuits du Jazz” festival and appeared as guest artists with symphony orchestras and with the Army Blues jazz ensemble at the US Capitol. They have opened concerts for jazz greats The Four Freshmen, Ahmad Jamal, and Charlie Byrd, and been featured performers at concerts, festivals and special events throughout the US.

Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet was included on the 2008 Sony/BMG European compilation CD release, “Ladies and Gentlemen: the Best of Vocal Jazz”. The collection also included such vocal jazz legends as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, Carmen McRae, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, The Manhattan Transfer, and the NY Voices.

Ginny holds a B.S. in Psychology from the College of William and Mary and a B.A. in Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She works full-time as a Training Specialist at the Library of Congress and moonlights as a professional pianist and solo entertainer in the Washington, DC area, in addition to her work with Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet. She has performed for over 40 years as a pianist, singer, and featured entertainer at mid-Atlantic establishments and private receptions and has entertained many notable clients, including VA Governor Terry McAuliffe, Supreme Court Justice Sonja Sotomayor, former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primatov, many members of Congress, and other prominent figures. She has been the musical director and written original scores for several musical theater productions performed by the William and Mary Theatre and community theater companies in Williamsburg, VA. Shortly after moving to the DC area in the 1980’s, Ginny played and sang Broadway show tunes six nights a week for several years at a popular Georgetown piano bar.

Ginny has performed as a solo pianist/vocalist, led small ensembles, and led/performed with Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet at the following festivals and venues (highlights):

• Les Nuits du Jazz Festival (Nantes, France), with Cote Ouest Big Band, 2004 and 2012
• Clearwater Jazz Holiday, international jazz festival 25th anniversary (Clearwater, FL)
• Detroit International Jazz Festival (Detroit, MI)
• Ottawa International Jazz Festival (Ottawa, CAN)
• DeMiero Jazz Fest (Edmonds,WA)
• Festival Miami (Miami, FL)
• US Capitol with the Army Blues (Washington, DC)
• Kiawah Island Arts Council Concert Series (Charleston, SC)
• Opening act for Four Freshmen (Reston, VA)
• Avalon Theater (Easton, MD), featured musical guest with NPR cast
• Blues Alley (Washington, DC)
• Bethesda Blues and Jazz Club (Bethesda, MD)
• Sanibel Big Arts Concert Series (Sanibel Island, FL)
• Kennedy Center Millennium Stage (Washington, DC)
• Smithsonian Jazz Concert Series (Washington, DC)
• McLean Orchestra Concert (McLean, VA), Pops Guest Artist
• Mary Washington Orchestra Concert (Fredericksburg, VA), Pops Guest Artist
• National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Jazz Series (Washington, DC)
• Library of Congress NAACP 100th Anniversary (Washington, DC)
• Smithsonian Jazz Café (Washington, DC)
• Richmond Jazz Society Concert (Richmond, VA)
• Blowing Rock Jazz Society Concert (Blowing Rock, NC)
• Chestertown Jazz Festival (Chestertown, MD)
• Greensburg Concert Series (Pittsburgh, PA)
• The Mainstay Concert Hall (Rock Hall, MD)
• Germano’s Cabaret (Baltimore, MD)
• The Cabaret at Fredericksburg Square (Fredericksburg, VA)
• The Carlyle Club (Alexandria, VA)
• Gettysburg Concert Series (Gettysburg, PA)
• Williamsburg Library Concert Series (Williamsburg, VA)
• Bluemont Concert Series (Winchester and Leesburg, VA)
• Lake Anne Concert Series (Reston, VA)
• Reston Town Center Series (Reston, VA)
• Takoma Park Jazz Festival (Takoma Park, MD)
• Association of Anglican Musicians Conference (National Press Club, DC)
• Washington Bach Consort (National Museum for Women in the Arts, DC)
• Shepherdstown University (Shepherdstown, WV), master class & concert
• Harford Community College (Bel Air, MD), master class & concert
• Tiffin University (Tiffin, OH), master class & concert
• Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA), master class & concert
• Randolph-Macon College (Ashland, VA), master class & concert
• Georgetown University (Washington, DC), master class & concert
• The Homestead (Hot Springs, VA)
• Ritz-Carlton Hotels (DC, VA)
• Normandie Farm Restaurant piano lounge (MD)
• Ice House Cafe (VA)
• Café Mozart (DC)
• Marriott Hotel Lounges (DC, VA)
• The Maryland Inn King of France Tavern (MD)
• Sala Thai Restaurants (VA, MD)
• The Theatre at Washington, VA
• The Tides Inn (VA)
• Lightfoot Restaurant (VA)
• M St. Bar & Grill (DC)

And… hundreds of private receptions, weddings, senior residences, and distinguished events from across the political, corporate, and social spectrum of Washington, DC and environs.