Primary Instrument: Composer/conductor/leader
Jaymz Bee and his Royal Jelly Orchestra Get “Seriously Happy” On Their Tenth Anniversary.
After spending the late 1980's and early 1990's touring Europe and North America with Canada's legendary “Look People”, and then handling Musical Director chores on “Friday Night”, a variety/talk show on Canada's CBC television network, Jaymz Bee's musical ambitions began to take greater focus in 1994, deciding he: “wanted to do a big-band album. I just want to do something from the heart .” He recorded his first big band album “Jaymz Bee and His Royal Jelly Orchestra” - releasing it in 1995.
For his initial foray into the studio with his “big band”, Bee surrounded himself with some of Canada's best young jazz inspired players including Richard Underhill, Sara McElcheran, Colleen Allen, Victor Bateman and George Koller.
It was with many of these musicians Jaymz began tirelessly touring the country performing a mix of Bee penned originals, Jazz instrumentals from Monk to Ellington, American Songbook standards, and Jazz-inspired re-arrangements of current pop music chart hits.
From 1996 to 2001 Jaymz Bee released four more recordings with the Royal Jelly Orchestra - often adding Canadian Jazz legend Peter Appelyard to his studio sessions, and featuring a wide range of distinctive Canadian vocalists, including Julie Michaels, John Alcorn, Tim Tamashiro and his discoveries, the award winning Beehive Singers.
Jaymz Bee's Royal Jelly Orchestra have been featured on a wide number of television programs, radio broadcasts and have headlined on Canadian stages from Coast to Coast - as well as being featured in select U.S. venues.
Jaymz Bee and his RJO's sixth CD, “Seriously Happy” features some of the top jazz talent in Toronto. This recording features Jaymz and his all-star unit with returning guest Peter Appelyard, accompanying some of Canada's brightest vocal talent, including Alex Pangman, Sandra Caldwell, Julie Michaels, Jennifer Ryan and DeeKaye Ibomeka.
His Tenth Anniversary edition of the RJO features his most impressive line up of jazz players to date. Building on the foundation of his decade long partnership with charter RJO members Great Bob Scott, Sarah McElcheran and Juno Award winning Jazz instrumentalist Richard Underhill, he expanded the band's horn line up with Chris Gayle, Ross Wooldridge, Terry Promane, Dave Dunlop and Grammy nominated Kevin Clarke. Bee has also added the guitar stylings of Juno Award winner Tony Quarrington and bassist extraordinaire Brandi Disterheft - to create a true Toronto Jazz all-star line up.
In 2003, Jaymz led his re-vamped RJO on a series of headlining shows. This band proved to be Jaymz' most powerful line-up yet.
Jaymz' continuing love for Jazz has led him to work at Jazz radio station, Jazz.FM91 (www.jazz.fm) , where he hosts a number of shows that support Canadian jazz players.
Jaymz Bee is once again hitting the stage with his Royal Jelly Orchestra in support the release of “Seriously Happy” with an exciting line up of players and singers that are wowing audiences with a dynamic jazz and vocal experience.
