He was jazz saxophonist born in Calcutta, India, and moved to England as a teenager.
He took up the tenor saxophone and in the 1950s he worked for Don Rendell who persuaded him to take up the baritone saxophone. His reputation started to become known and he worked with band leaders that included Ted Heath and Woody Herman.
He became a co-leader of the Jazzmakers with Allan Ganley and led his own band that did recording sessions with stars that included Johnny Dankworth. He is known for his recordings of “The Country Squire” and “Pitiful Pearl”. He has also worked with stars that include Bryan Ferry and Lou Reed.
Joining up as a saxophonist for the group Matt Bianco in 1981 he appeared on their albums and recordings which included “Indigo” and the successful “Whose Side Are You On”. He also performed on Basia’s, the ex-Matt Bianco member, own albums later in the 1980s. He died in 1991 in London, England, aged 58.
Matt Bianco Recordings
Good Times (New Version) (Mark Reilly/Mark Fisher)
Half a Minute (Mark Reilly/Danny White/Kito Poncioni)
Matt’s Mood II (Mark Reilly/Danny White)
Smooth (Mark Reilly)
Tumbao (Edited Version) (Mark Reilly/Mark Fisher)
Yeh Yeh (Rodgers Grant/Pat Patrick/Jon Hendricks)
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