Royal Society Jazz Orchestra

Specialties

The Royal Society Jazz Orchestra specializes in authentic 1920s Jazz, Swing and Big Band music with bandleader Don Neely and Vocalist Carla Normand.

We have the renowned ten-​piece orchestra, sextet and smaller ensembles. In the past few years we have enlarged our party repertoire to include music and arrangements associated with the Rat Pack style of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.

Our engagements include concerts, special events, weddings, vintage Art Deco events, 1920s theme parties, and corporate events.

History

Established in 1976.

Don Neely started the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra when he was a student at San Jose State University. The «RSJO» grew more polished and soon were performing their authentic recreations of 1920s jazz at jazz festivals around the country. In the San Francisco Bay Area they have played scores of high-​profile events including opening-​night galas for the San Francisco Opera, Symphony and Ballet. They have performed at many grand Art Deco era events, and in recent years played at the Ahwahnee Hotel for the annual Heritage Holidays, celebrating the history of Yosemite National Park in the 1920s and ‘30s.

Meet the Manager

carla N.

Manager

Carla Normand is the business manager and vocalist with the Royal Society Jazz Orchestra. She specializes in singing songs from the Jazz Age, Swing and Big Band Era in a style that is in reminiscent of artists from that time.