Biography

The exhilarating musical synergy The Uptown Band has created with audiences in their home region of the Northeast and beyond since 2006 continues to grow. Stirring up an explosive, melodic, and grooving mix of jazz, pop, rock, funk and R&B, the multi-talented Jenifer (lead vocalist) and Erich (band leader, vocalist, saxophonist) and their evolving group of musicians (a four piece rhythm section featuring 2 horns) have headlined hundreds of shows and numerous charitable functions.

The Uptown Band has long supported the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society and has performed at several ACS walk events over the years. They have done shows as far West as California and Reno, where they played Live Jazz Night at The Nugget on two occasions and among many other private functions, have played for four time Super Bowl Winner/Detroit Lions GM Matt Millen.

The Uptown Band has grown beyond its regional roots and become a truly national and international story since the release of their stylistically eclectic, critically acclaimed full-length album debut Waiting For Her. “SJ3”, the first single off of their sophomore album Heart, Soul, Body, & Mind climbed all the way to #9 in the United States on the Groove Jazz Radio Chart. Featured artists on Heart, Soul, Body, & Mind include legendary artists Will Lee, bassist from The Late Show with David Letterman’s CBS Orchestra, trumpet great and founding member of Tower of Power and East Bay Soul, Greg Adams, percussionist Doc Gibbs from The Emeril Live Show on the Food Network, drummer Curtis Harmon of Pieces of a Dream, and the CD’s Producer, bassist Bennie Sims of The Three Degrees.

TV-wise, they have performed twice on NBC New York’s former Late Night talk show “All Night With Joey Reynolds”. In addition to having their own listing on Pandora Radio, their songs “Waiting For Her,” “I’m Breathless” and “You Treated Me Good” have been heard on the national cable system Music Choice and DMX Satellite Radio.

In the U.S., their music has been featured on numerous terrestrial radio stations in such markets as Quad Cities, Iowa (KMXG 96.1 FM) and Chicago, where WLFM 87.7 FM spun their holiday recording “Merry Christmas Baby.” “Waiting For Her”, “You Treated Me Good”, and “SJ3” were all the #1 most added tracks in their week of release on the Groove Jazz Radio chart. Around the world, they enjoy brisk album sales in Japan and airplay on a unique array of stations, including Hawkesbury 89.9 in Sydney, Australia and Phoenix FM 98 in Brentwood, UK.

While Erich likes to compare the performance style he and Jenifer have to iconic musical couples of past eras like Louis Prima & Keely Smith and Sonny & Cher, the vibe they create with The Uptown Band—while drawing from old school jazz and soul elements—is hip, cool, and contemporary. Embodying their exciting blend of musical vibes, he describes Heart, Soul, Body, & Mind as “Alicia Keys meets Pieces of a Dream meets Tower of Power meets Bobby Caldwell meets The Uptown Band”.

“We formed The Uptown Band with the intent of being able to do any type of show, and we originally started with a set list of only cover material,” says Erich. “As we have evolved, we have not only diversified our sound but incorporated a lot of original material, which inspired us to become independent recording artists as well. While we’ve enjoyed an inspiring amount of success in our home state and the Northeast, doing from 150-200 gigs a year at one point, we’ve always had our eye on becoming a band that performs all around the U.S. and eventually, throughout the world. We’ve got a big sound that is hard to contain and we want to share the musical joy with as many people as possible.”

Erich and Jenifer each bring a unique musical background to their leadership of The Uptown Band. Shillington native Erich, whose versatility includes playing all saxes, flute, and clarinet, was a featured vocalist and saxophonist with the Bobby Mercer Road Show. Jenifer, a native of Reading, PA, has been singing since the age of five. She began studying voice at age 8 with David Rutt and became heavily involved with the Reading Civic Opera and Genesius Theatre, landing leading roles in “Annie,” “The Music Man,” and “Peter Pan.” At age 14, she began working with producer Scott Verret and recorded jingles, commercials and theme songs for Easter Seals and The United Way. Combining her incredible vocal talent with her songwriting skills, Kinder has become one of the most sought-after female vocalists in the Northeast. In 2004, she released her original debut CD entitled Show Me More and in 2014, her follow-up Twisted.

Some of Erich’s more notable performances include shows at Florida State University for the 2000 Florida Republican Inauguration Gala, Charlotte’s Independence Arena, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Walt Disney World, numerous Atlantic City showrooms and lounges, and Carnegie Hall with the District 10 Chorus as a senior in high school. He has performed as a sideman for Marie Osmond, The Skyliners, Bill Haley’s Comets, Larry Chance & The Earls, and has opened for Martha and the Vandellas, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, and Gene Chandler. Jenifer’s notable performances include opening for country music sensations Joe Nichols, Mark Wills, David Ball, and comedian Jeff Dunham. Both have been featured soloists with the Reading POPS Orchestra and the Hershey Big Band.

“I believe the key to our success with The Uptown Band is the way Jenifer and I, working with some of the best musicians around, connect with our audiences,” says Erich. “I learned a long time ago when I was a backing musician the importance of breaking down that barrier between the performer and those who come to see you play--and in many cases, are spending their hard earned money to do so. We love sharing our personal and musical joy this way and are so grateful for all the support they have given us over the years. Now that the rest of the country and world is becoming aware of us, it’s exciting to think about what the future may hold.”

"Truly celebrating the magical and expansive stylistic possibilities of being Indie, the Uptown Band is (in an exuberant way) all over the map. Sometimes it's tricky translating live energy to the studio, but the band makes the transition with flair."
-----Jonathan Widran, AllMusic.com

"The Uptown Band isn’t your regular run of the mill band. Vocally and instrumentally, these guys are deadly in their execution of any music they choose to perform."
-----Randy Patterson, Boomerocity.com

"The music industry needs more bands like this."
-----Randy Mahon, The Urban Music Scene