Royal Society Jazz Orchestra at the "Great Gatsby Summer Affair" at Dunsmuir House, Oakland

Don Neely - Bandleader, arranger reed player, vocalist, songwriter

Don Neely, vocalist Carla Normand, and the ten-piece Royal Society Jazz Orchestra of San Francisco are renowned for authentically performing the exciting sound of Big Band Swing, Hot Syncopated 1920s Jazz, 1930s & 1940s Swing, Elegant Art Deco-Era Dance Music, Dixieland, Romantic Background Music, Vintage Jazz, Blues, and Traditional Jazz. Unforgettable events such as the Art Deco Preservation Balls at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, and Bimbo's 368 Club in San Francisco, The Gatsby Summer Afternoons at the Dunsmuir Helman Historic Estate in Oakland, The Yosemite Heritage Holidays Celebrations at the Awhanee Hotel in Yosemite National Park are just a few of the large-scale, vintage theme events for which they have performed. High-profile social events in San Francisco include Opening Night Black-tie Celebrations for the San Francisco Opera, Symphony, and Ballet. They play for parties, concerts, weddings, vintage weddings, jazz festivals, and many kinds of special events with bands of several sizes: Don Neely's Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, Sextet, and smaller ensembles. They perform all their music in authentic vintage style, from romantic background music to the hottest dance band rhythms, swing, and jazz.

Innovators such as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Paul Whiteman, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Bix Biederbecke, and Louis Armstrong are among the RSJO's inspirations. They have an unmistakably authentic sound, yet, you will discover upon seeing their live performances and hearing their recordings, that the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra has a colorful spirit-lifting style of its own.

Dancers love the infectious rhythms of the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra. Popular dance steps include Swing, Fox Trot, Lindy Hop, Waltz, Tango, Charleston, Balboa, Black Bottom, Rumba, Samba. They play songs by George Gershwin, Fats Waller, Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael, Cole Porter, Walter Donaldson, Harold Arlen, and Johnny Mercer and original vintage-style songs by Don Neely. Also in their colorful repertoire are songs from Tin Pan Alley, Vaudeville, the Cotton Club, Art Deco-era cinema and Broadway.

Carla Normand - Vocalist

"...the whole idea soars when Normand steps to the mike and, in her lithe voice, sings "Get Out and Get Under The Moon" (which is so Etting-ish it's spooky)"
--San Francisco Chronicle

For party and concert bookings, call (707) 765-2055 or email us today!

We invite you to experience the scintillating sounds of 1920s Jazz and Big Band Swing in San Francisco played by The Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, Sextet, and smaller ensembles.

Royal Society Jazz Orchestra - In Concert
"Excellent...Splendid... First Rate ... Fine ... Wondrous" --San Francisco Chronicle

Royal Society Jazz Orchestra at the Fox Theatre, Oakland

"The best band of their type in the world...The Royal Society is solid, tight, brilliant ... It is at once a first-rate dance orchestra, a fine jazz ensemble (with strong soloists) ... Carla Normand is the band's perfect singer ... a bright, sure-pitched gem of a voice." - Phillip Elwood, San Francisco Examiner, Music Critic

Big Band Swing San Francisco - Dixieland Jazz - Traditional Jazz - 1930s & 1940s Swing - Authentic 1920s Music - Elegant Art Deco Dance Music - Speakeasy Jazz - Vintage Weddings - Flappers 1920s Jazz - 1920s Great Gatsby Jazz - Romantic Cocktail Music - Songs of Art Deco - Films and Broadway - Tin Pan Alley

Contact Us:
rsjo@sonic.net
Telephone: 707-765-2055
To join our mailing list...
Email us at:rsjo@sonic.net

Royal Society Jazz Orchestra
P.O. Box 750663
Petaluma, CA 94975

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