Don Ambrose

Inspired by his bandleader father, Don Ambrose, the popular jazz pianist in the Dallas area and leader of the Don Ambrose Trio, began playing professionally at the age of fifteen. Ambrose started his musical career as a drummer and later as a vibe player in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio. He studied privately in New York City and performed there, including at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan. During his college career, he was a member of the award-winning band at the Wichita Jazz Festival, where he was recognized as one of its outstanding players. He also performed at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival.

In addition to having performed at the Jazz Under the Stars concert series at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) and the DMA Thursday Nights series, Ambrose has appeared with Mel Torme and Ramsey Lewis and at the Sammons Jazz Festival, Ft. Worth Jazz Festival, The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Caravan of Dreams in Fort Worth, World Cup Soccer, The America’s Cup kickoff dinner, The GTE Byron Nelson Classic, Mary Kay cosmetics convention, TACA, and USA Film Festival. Ambrose has enjoyed playing for dignitaries such as President and Mrs. George W. Bush, Ross Perot, Bill Blass, Leeza Gibbons, Ungaro, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Lady Bird Johnson, and Lord Callahan, former Prime Minister of England.

"He was very pleasant to listen to."
Stephanie Reed, October 8, 2007