Billy Amstell
Billy Amstell (20 August 1911 – 19 December 2005) was a British jazz reedist.
Biography
[edit]At ten, Amstel he played piano, and at thirteen was teaching himself how to play alto saxophone.[1] He performed in Glasgow, before moving to London in 1930, working with violinist Jack Harris.[1] During the next year, he recorded with Roy Fox and Spike Hughes, and became a member of the Ambrose orchestra, in which he played tenor saxophone.[1] In the 1940s, he worked for bandleader Geraldo and in the 1950s, for the BBC Dance Orchestra.[1] He was a studio musician in the 1960s, working with George Chisholm.[1]
He played clarinet in the 1980s, released a solo album, Session After Midnight (Zodiac, 1980), and wrote his autobiography, Don't Fuss, Mr. Ambrose.[1] He continued to perform in his nineties.[1]
His brother Mickey Amstell played saxophone.[1] Billy Amstell was married to model and actress Tessa Amstell.[2]
