May 12 , 2012 - Summer Dates - Notable shows include Musikfest & Hersheypark
The festival season has officially begun for the band. We played our first festival last Friday, May 4 at the Wernersville (PA) Fair. Unfortunately, the weather Gods had other plans for the evening as we were only able to play 40 minutes and then were forced to cancel due to inclement weather. We want to thank our friends and fans for braving the elements. Fortunately, there are many other venues to check the band out this summer including our next festival date at the Adamstown (PA) Community Days to start off Memorial Day weekend on Friday, May 25, 2012. This will be our first appearance in Adamstown. Other notable shows this summer include The Shillington Park Concert Series, Nissley Vineyards, The Springettsbury Township Concert Series, Lock Haven's Riverfront Concert Series, The Lebanon Fair, The Greencastle Fair, Governor Mifflin Community Days, and The Oley Fair. After a few year hiatus, we will also be returning to Bethlehem Musikfest at the Festplatz stage. One new venue that we are extremely excited about is performing at the Hersheypark Ampitheatre on Labor Day. Bandleader Erich Cawalla had previously performed at the Hersheypark Ampitheatre with the Bobby Mercer Road Show for 10 years straight. The Reading Phillies have also been kind enough to book us for shows this summer, including a Post-Game show for the Eastern League All-Star Game on Wed. July 11th. It's going to be a busy summer but we can't wait and hope to see you at many of these festival shows!
April 6, 2012 - The Uptown Band Anniversary Party - One word - WOW!!!
We all want to say THANK YOU to the over 700 strong that came out to our anniversary party on Good Friday, April 6th. The event featured three bands including The Uptown Band, Mr. Hand the 80's Band, and The Groovemasters, as well as DJ Bob Tier in between the bands. For only a $10.00 ticket charge, guests were treated with music from 7:30 PM until 1:00 AM in the ballroom of the Crowne Plaza in Reading, PA. Because of the incredible response, the event has already been booked for next year again on Good Friday, March 29, 2013. Mark your calendars now for our annual anniversary party!!!
April 5 , 2012 - The Reading Eagle interviews Erich Cawalla & The Uptown Band
We wish to thank Don Botch, Tracey Rasmussen and the rest of the Reading Eagle staff for the article which appeared in The Weekend section on the Reading Eagle on April 5, 2012. Subjects covered included our debut CD, radio/TV coverage, and the band's anniversary party. To read the article, Click Here.
January 13, 2012 - Uptown Band planning annual anniversary party...
The band played our first "gig" in March of 2006 (Is it that long already?!). How many of our friends and fans can remember where our first show was booked.................the old Casa Grande outside of Reading PA as part of the Berks Jazz Festival. Having an anniversary party each year has always been a dream of our leader Erich Cawalla and 2012 is going to be the year. On Friday April 6, 2012, The Uptown Band will present our first annual anniversary party as we will be joined by 2 OTHER BANDS for a night for fun and dancing at the Crowne Plaza in Reading PA! What we know right now is that The Uptown Band will be featured as well as The Groovemasters featuring Bennie Sims and Cliff Starkey. Perhaps at the end there will be an All Star Jam Session?!?!?!? More information and added bands TBA within the next few weeks...
December 12, 2011 - Uptown Band's "O Holy Night" released to radio...
We are again working with Adam Leibovitz at ASL Music Media for our 2nd holiday release in two years. Our second release produced by Bennie Sims features Jenifer on lead vocals, Erich on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones (that's right 4 sax parts!), and Uptown's drummer Mike "Killer" Humbert. It has been very favorably received by radio stations throughout America and even pushed last year's release "Merry Christmas Baby" to chart on Groove Jazz radio stations. The music business is CRAZY!!! "O Holy Night" is only available digitally on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, and many other online retail outlets.
July 25, 2011 - Review of "Waiting for Her" from Jonathan Widran & All Music!
"Sometimes it's tricky translating live energy to the studio, but the band, trying to expand its base beyond its home region of Pennsylvania, makes the transition with flair."
Full Story ---Jonathan Widran, Music Journalist, AllMusic.com, Encino CA
July 11, 2011 - "Waiting for Her" gaining momentum on radio...
As recording artists, the release of a debut CD is an incredible learning experience. We all strive to get our music in as many different hands as possible and hope that radio programmers like what they hear. With the assistance of Adam at ASL Music Media, the title track from "Waiting for Her" has been our most successful radio release thus far. We have achieved Chartbound on Groove Jazz Music radio stations as well as being played on some of the biggest Jazz stations in the country including Music Choice Smooth Jazz's national cable television channel, Smooth Jazz 92.7 in Harrisburg PA, and The Groove in Melbourne FL. This has been an INCREDIBLE experience thus far. Our last goal is to chart this record and we will keep crossing our fingers!
July 1, 2011 - Review of "Waiting for Her" from Boomerocity.com
"The Uptown Band is a newlywed husband and wife team consisting of Erich Cawalla and Jenifer Kinder, who deliver a skillful blend of Pop, Jazz, R&B and Funk. How’s that for an eclectic yet tasteful mix?"
Full Story ---Randy Patterson, Reviewer, Boomerocity.com, Dallas TX
June 25, 2011 - Uptown female vocalist Jenifer Kinder sings for a great cause
As you may or may not know, Jenifer's best friend Kyle Lesher passed away 2 days before Christmas this past December. In memory of our fallen friend, Jenifer has recorded a song dedicated to Kyle called "December" and she is donating all of the proceeds from this single to the Kyle John Lesher Memorial Foundation. To listen to or buy this single, please visit iTunes or Jenifer's Reverb Nation Store. Thank you for supporting this great cause.
May 16, 2011 - Erich Cawalla chats with Judyth Piazza of Google News
An award-winning journalist, Judyth Piazza is the host of the American Perspective Radio Program and founder of the Student Operated Press. Nicknamed "The Italian-Oprah", she has interviewed celebrites of Film, Music, Books, TV, and every other possible profession. On May 16, The Uptown Band's leader/manager Erich Cawalla was humbled to be interviewed by Judyth. Full Story
March 14 , 2011 - The band invited back to perform on NBC New York!
Ater a successful first appearance on "All Night with Joey Reynolds", Executive Producer Myra Chanin quickly invited the band back to perform on the show and on March 14, the group again made the trip to Times Square to perform "Hey There Lonely Girl" and one of the group's original songs written by Scott Verret, "Way Too Good for You." To view this performance, click the following YouTube link:
"Way Too Good For You" - The Uptown Band on NBC's "All Night with Joey Reynolds"
February 7, 2011 - The band makes its television debut on NBC New York!
The Uptown Band featuring Erich Cawalla & Jenifer Kinder made its television debut on February 7th on "All Night with Joey Reynolds." Joey's new late-night talk show is filmed at the NASDAQ Building Studio in Times Square and appears nightly on NBC New York Nonstop from midnight - 2:00 AM. The band performed two of its original songs, "I'm Breathless" and "Fall Down," which both appear on the group's debut CD "Waiting for Her." It was incredibly exciting! To view the band's performances, click the following YouTube links:
"I'm Breathless" - The Uptown Band on NBC's "All Night with Joey Reynolds"
"Fall Down" - The Uptown Band on NBC's "All Night with Joey Reynolds"
January 4, 2011 - Jenifer and Erich to perform in Reno NV at the Nugget!
Uptown leaders Jenifer Kinder and Erich Cawalla will be performing at the Nugget Casino and Resort as part of KJZS 92.1 FM's Live Music Night in the Orozko Lounge. This will be the first time either of them have been to "The Biggest Little City in the World." For more information on this special event, feel free to visit the Nugget's Entertainment Calendar.
December 14, 2010 - Uptown Band's "Merry Christmas Baby" hits radio!
The first-ever holiday single by The Uptown Band has received extremely positive response from radio stations throughout the world. Produced by Bennie Sims, and featuring Jenifer Kinder on vocals, Erich Cawalla on saxophone, and special guest, 2-Time Grammy Winner David Cullen on guitar,
it is a sultry version of this timeless classic. Some of the bigger Clear Channel radio stations which have played it include WLFM in Chicago IL, KMXG in Quad Cities IO, and even an add from our hometown station, WRFY in Reading PA. To download "Merry Christmas Baby", visit iTunes or our store on Amazon.com.
Decmber 6, 2010 - Erich Interviewed by Spud Too Tight
The Producer's Corner with Spud Too Tight is one of the hottest and most unique celebrity driven Podcasts. Erich was honored to be interviewed by Spud. To hear this inverview, visit Spud Too Tight's website.
August 28, 2010 - Erich Interviewed on Talking Smooth Jazz Radio
Thank you to Terri and Mike at Talking Smooth Jazz. To hear this inverview, visit Talking Smooth Jazz Radio
August 2, 2010 - Debut Single "You Treated Me Good" #1 Added Song in US!
It has been a busy summer for the band, travelling to performances in New York, Cleveland, and Erie. The band is excited to report that their debut single "You Treated Me Good" was the #1 added song in the United States on the Groove Jazz Music Chart for the week of August 2, 2010, beating out Chart regulars Brian Culbertson and Incognito. Thank you to these radio stations for supporting the band's music.
July 3 , 2010 - The Uptown Band performs at NFL Star Matt Millen's residence
It was one of the most exciting phone calls Erich can ever remember getting when he picked up the phone in July 2009. Little did he know at the time, but the caller on the line was a former 4-Time Superbowl Winner, former Detroit Lions General Manager, and current ESPN/NFL Network Broadcaster. Erich was ecstatic in booking the date to perform at the wedding reception of Matt Millen's daughter. The performance went sensational and the band was honored to perform for both the Millen and Mooney families.
May 16, 2010 - "Waiting for Her" receiving FM radio adds throughout the US!
The band has begun a radio campaign
with internationally-recognized ASL Music Media and Promotion. The response has been both extremely positive and very humbling! In our first week, we are excited to announce adds to FM markets in St. Louis, Houston, Honolulu, and Springfield, MA. We have also been added to the ever-growing AOL Radio and DMX Radio's Jazz Vocal Blend Station, which is played in restaurants, hotels, department stores, and casinos throughout the country!
Click for a complete listing of radio stations playing tracks from The Uptown Band
April 21, 2010 - Review of "Waiting for Her" from Smooth Jazz Therapy
"With the vocals of Erich Cawalla and Jenifer Kinder at its heart, the Philadelphia based Uptown Band is
one of the Northeast’s most versatile live acts. Now, courtesy of the new CD "Waiting For Her", this tight seven piece collective is about to step out and take its musical ambitions to a whole different audience. "Waiting For Her" is an accomplished collection that ably transports the band’s undisputed live prowess to the recording studio."
Full Story ---Denis Poole, Writer/Producer, SmoothJazzTherapy.com, York United Kingdom
April 15, 2010 - The Uptown Band to be featured on its first compilation CD!
US Smooth Jazz is an incredible new website dedicated to helping artists share their music with the world. The title track from The Uptown Band's debut CD "Waiting for Her" is going to be featured on the website's first compilation CD "Jazz Infusion" along with some other great artists in the world of Smooth Jazz, Soul, and R&B. Release is set for May 21, 2010! The CD can be purchased at USSmoothJazz.com or digitally downloaded on DigStation.
February 26, 2010 - Review of "Waiting for Her" from Pop Journalism Canada
"The Uptown Band featuring Erich Cawalla and Jenifer Kinder exploded on the Pennsylvania jazz scene with their energetic live shows that have captivated audiences in the region (do yourself a favor and search for The Uptown Band on YouTube for a wealth of live gigs). Fortunately, The Uptown’s have turned all those hours of wild gigging into a collage of sounds where hard-driving funk meets blue-eyed soul with patchworks of modern pop thrown in for good measure."
Full Story ---Jason Gladu, Senior Music Reviewer, Pop Journalism Magazine, Toronto ON, Canada
January 25, 2010 - Review of "Waiting for Her" from The Urban Music Scene
"The promising 2010 debut "Waiting For Her", from Philly area based collective known as The Uptown Band, blends a fine concoction of Jazz, Funk, Rock & Pop. This band is one to be looked out for in the coming months and beyond."
Full Story ---Randy Mahon, Music Reviewer, The Urban Music Scene, Highland CA, United States
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