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Inspired by the Musical Innovators of the 1920s and '30s — Soloists and Songwriters

Drawing inspiration from the great bands, performers and composers of the External link opens in new tab or window"Jazz Age" and External link opens in new tab or window"Swing Era," External link opens in new tab or windowDon Neely and the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra affectionately and authentically recapture the excitement and fascination of that musical heyday. They are guided by their affinity for the superb music of innovators active in the 1920s and '30s, such as External link opens in new tab or windowFletcher Henderson,  External link opens in new tab or windowPaul Whiteman,  External link opens in new tab or windowLouis Armstrong, External link opens in new tab or windowBix Biederbecke,  External link opens in new tab or windowTed Lewis, External link opens in new tab or windowBenny Goodman, and External link opens in new tab or windowDuke Ellington. Songwriting inspirations include External link opens in new tab or windowHarry Warren, External link opens in new tab or windowFats Waller, External link opens in new tab or windowCole Porter, External link opens in new tab or windowGeorge Gershwin, External link opens in new tab or windowHoagy Carmichael, External link opens in new tab or window Irving Berlin, External link opens in new tab or windowJohnny Mercer, External link opens in new tab or windowHarold Arlen, and External link opens in new tab or windowWalter Donaldson. The Royal Society Jazz Orchestra and smaller ensembles have enchanted audiences across the country with their entertaining combination of great songs and authentic style in their live performances and CDs.



External link opens in new tab or windowDon Neely Plays the External link opens in new tab or windowMusical Saw.


Songs, Singers and the Cinema

The eleven-member RSJO and our smaller ensembles present the colorful songs made famous by such greats as External link opens in new tab or windowBing Crosby,External link opens in new tab or window Cab Calloway, External link opens in new tab or windowRuth Etting,External link opens in new tab or window Eddie Cantor, External link opens in new tab or windowBillie Holiday, External link opens in new tab or windowHelen Ward, External link opens in new tab or windowDick Powell, External link opens in new tab or windowEthel Waters, External link opens in new tab or windowFred Astaire, External link opens in new tab or windowMaurice Chevalier, the External link opens in new tab or windowBoswell Sisters, External link opens in new tab or windowElla Fitzgerald ,  External link opens in new tab or windowAl Jolson , and External link opens in new tab or windowSofie Tucker.  And what songs! "External link opens in new tab or windowAvalon, " "External link opens in new tab or windowWrap Your Troubles In Dreams, " "External link opens in new tab or windowThree Little Words, " " Truckin'," " External link opens in new tab or windowThe Music Goes 'Round and 'Round, " "External link opens in new tab or window Walkin' My Baby Back Home, " "External link opens in new tab or windowMoten Swing, " "Hello Beautiful," and "Shakin' The Blues Away." Don Neely draws from many sources, including the best of Silver Screen and Broadway classics, including those directed and choreographed by External link opens in new tab or windowBusby Berkeley :External link opens in new tab or window42nd Street and External link opens in new tab or windowFootlight Parade. Classic films such as External link opens in new tab or windowTop Hat,External link opens in new tab or window Shall We Dance, External link opens in new tab or windowSwing Time, External link opens in new tab or windowKing Of Jazz, External link opens in new tab or windowCotton Club Parade, External link opens in new tab or windowAnything Goes, and External link opens in new tab or windowThe Blue Angel are among those that serve as artistic inspirations.




Exploring the Musical Nuances of the 1920s and '30s

One of the many things that set this eleven-member ensemble apart is their genuine understanding of the music they perform. By going back and carefully studying the original musical ideas of the period, they are able to achieve their remarkably authentic sound. The band's entertaining and talented soloists are creatively spotlighted in their exciting and varied show, providing many delightful surprises. The RSJO plays with pizzaz  — from intricately-faceted, 1920s Syncopated Jazz to ultra-sleek, 1930s Big Band Swing.



External link opens in new tab or windowBob Embry            


Original Spirit of the Music

When the reeds and brass sound their first rousing phrases, audiences realize they are in for a rare treat. Capturing the exhilarating spirit and stylistic nuances of the music, they deliver each song in a warmly expressive style. External link opens in new tab or windowDon Neely's insightful and often humorous comments on the microphone about the songs and their history are as entertaining as they are educational. Vocalist External link opens in new tab or windowCarla Normand delights with her authentic sound and style. External link opens in new tab or windowFrederick Hodges electrifies with his piano virtuosity. Each jazz solo is improvised in the style of the era, and is a creation of the musician who plays it.  

Jazz Age Fun
The band plays soaring hot jazz, authentic Dixieland, sweet love ballads, lowdown blues and hilarious novelties in a warmly expressive style. The RSJO's propulsive rhythms and inventive harmonies capture audiences in their spell and deliver them to the Jazz Age, setting their hearts and feet to dancing. A concert journey with the RSJO covers a fascinating panorama of classic 1920s and '30s music. They include songs from red-hot External link opens in new tab or windowCotton Club revues, saucy External link opens in new tab or windowVaudeville shows, and Broadway and film musicals from that artistically fertile time known as the External link opens in new tab or windowArt Deco era. This period gave birth to some of the most stylish and intriguing music ever created. The RSJO presents a stirring array of selections drawn from this musical cornucopia -- from the most celebrated and enduring songs to recently rediscovered gems. Experiencing a performance by the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra is a wonderful tonic, alive with fun, and guaranteed to lift the spirits.




Concerts and special events

The Royal Society Jazz Orchestra became a smash sensation in San Francisco, gathering a large following of enthusiastic fans. Their concerts and other performances have taken them all around the country and abroad. Performances include Paramount Theatres in California, Illinois and Texas, The Edinburgh Festival, The San Francisco Symphony Pops Concert, The Toronto Jazz Festival, The Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival, The San Francisco Jazz Festival, The Sacramento Music Festival, The St. Louis Jazz Festival, The Monterey Jazz Festival, The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, and The San Diego Jazz Festival. The RSJO starred in an hour-long PBS television special, a first-rate production recreating a 1930s Art Deco nightclub. The RSJO is a prolific recording ensemble with over 15 critically-acclaimed compact discs to their credit. Bandleader, Don Neely has written numerous catchy songs in the 1920s and '30s style. In addition to concert appearances, they have enjoyed long-running engagements at several famous hotels. They have played for several San Francisco Black and White Balls, opening night galas for the San Francisco Symphony, Opera, and Ballet, international cruises and scores of high profile San Francisco social events. The orchestra was voted #1 Favorite Big Band in the Jazzology Poll, and was voted most popular Big Band in the American Rag music poll. The RSJO's popularity and authenticity inspire many large-scale Art Deco-era-themed events in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.


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