Jaymz Bee and the Royal Jelly Orchestra


Jaymz Bee and the Royal Jelly Orchestra is a Canadian lounge music and jazz band formed in Toronto. This group of about a dozen musicians, led by Bee, released eight albums of cover versions of well-known songs, reinterpreted for performance in cocktail lounges.

History

The band was formed by Jaymz Bee, following the breakup of The Look People, and were quickly offered a spot on Molly Johnson's Kumbaya Festival bill. The group's f self-titled album was released in 1995.
The band's best known album was 1997's Cocktail: Shakin' and Stirred, released by BMG. It featured lounge interpretations of classic Canadian rock songs, ranging from Rush, Jim Vallance and Bryan Adams to Crash Test Dummies and Alanis Morissette. Some of the vocalists featured on the disc were Tim Tamashiro, Frank Nevada, John Alcorn, Roger Clown, Big Rude Jake, Melleny Melody, Robbie Rox, and John Southworth.
The core of the band consisted of Bee, Jono Grant on piano and guitar, Great Bob Scott on drums, George Koller on bass, Sarah McElcheran on trumpet, Jim Bish on saxophone, flute and clarinet, Richard Underhill on alto and soprano sax and Colleen Allen on tenor sax and flute. A vast array of guest vocalists have also performed with the band, including Tia Brazda, Molly Johnson, Kyree Vibrant, Monika Deol, Ed the Sock, Moxy Früvous, Greg Keelor, Albert Schultz, Sophia Perlman, and Ralph Benmergui. Many singers, such as Michael Bublé, DK Ibomeka, Serafin LaRiviere, Sophie Milman, and Lyne Tremblay, have also gone on to do their own recordings and tours since guesting with the band. Vocalists include Julie Michels, Alex Pangman, Jef "Vegas" Farquharson, Mariève Herington, Heather Bambrick and Roger Clown.
The Royal Jelly Orchestra rarely perform for the public. For the most part, the band perform at charity galas, corporate events, awards shows and big budget private parties.

Discography