Don Neely's Royal Society Jazz Orchestra are a rarity, an ensemble that brings back the hot dance band music of both white and black orchestras of the 1920s. The ten-piece group heard on their Stomp Off debut consists of three reeds (including
Neely on alto), two trumpet/cornets, one trombone, and a four-piece rhythm section. In addition,
Neely takes three vocals,
Carla Normand has six, pianist
Frederick Hodges sings on four songs, and the Jesters (three singers) are heard on six numbers (including during two of
Normand's appearances). The vocals are pleasing and generally brief, but it is the instrumental playing that is most impressive, as is the largely obscure repertoire. Among the highlights are "Shaking the Blues Away," "The Breakaway," "Sweet Jennie Lee," "New Moten Stomp," and "Sunday."