Jazz in the jelly mix in Dixieland

By Lia Bichel
A DOUBLE bass player from Narre Warren is one of many talented musicians entertaining commuters at transport hubs to promote the Melbourne Jazz Festival.
Glen Impey, 21, is one of six members of The Royal Jelly Dixieland Band hitting the big notes outside train stations, bus and tram stops until 14 June to promote the music festival.
Glen said the group began about two years ago and juggle their university studies with gigs across the region while hoping to make an album in the near future.
“We are all music students from Box Hill and Monash. We have been playing a lot of music in the northern suburbs – Carlton, Brunswick and Coburg. And we have been playing gigs for Swing Patrol,” he said
“We find that there is quite a niche for that live swing dance music.”
Members of The Royal Jelly Dixieland Band play the trumpet, clarinet, trombone, banjo, double bass, and drums – providing big sounds and big entertainment to their fans.
Glen said there has been a lot of positive feedback to the band’s popular classic hits which appeal to people of all ages.
“There are a lot of younger people who enjoy our music,” he said.
“It’s surprising that this music is not one of those things that are bound by gender or age, even though some of the songs we play are close to 100 years old.”
Glen said they were pleased with the exposure the band had received promoting the Melbourne Jazz Festival.
The Royal Jelly Dixieland Band will hit the studio in July to begin recording their first album.
For more information visit the bands Facebook site on www.facebook.com/TRJDB.