Allan Ganley Explained

Allan Ganley
Birth Name:Allan Anthony Ganley
Birth Date:1931 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Tolworth, Surrey, England
Death Place:Slough, Berkshire, England
Genre:Jazz, dixieland
Occupation:Musician, arranger
Instruments:Drums
Years Active:Early 1950s–2008

Allan Anthony Ganley (11 March 1931[1] – 29 March 2008)[2] was an English jazz drummer and arranger.

Career

Ganley was born in Tolworth, Surrey, England.[3] A self-taught drummer, in the early 1950s Ganley played in the dance band led by Bert Ambrose.[1] In 1953, he came to prominence as a member of Johnny Dankworth's band.[1] Also in the 1950s, he worked with Derek Smith, Dizzy Reece, Vic Ash, and Ronnie Scott.[1] Towards the end of the decade he was co-leader with Ronnie Ross of a small group known as the Jazzmakers.[1] [4]

In the early 1960s, Ganley often worked with Tubby Hayes, playing with his small groups and the occasionally assembled big band.[1] As house drummer at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club he played with Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Jim Hall, Freddie Hubbard, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk.[1] In the early 1970s, he took time out to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, then returned to the UK to form and lead a big band which he maintained sporadically for the next 10 years.[1]

Bermuda -Allan was the drummer in the Joe Wylie Orchestra in the late 60's / early 70's at the Hamilton Princess Hotel, backing up many International Artists from the UK and the USA. He was also a close friend of drummer Andy Newmark whom he met during his time in Bermuda.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Ganley could be seen and heard on countless broadcasts and recording dates, playing with jazz musicians of all styles.[1] In the 1990s Ganley was as active as ever, playing club and festival dates throughout the UK with occasional overseas trips.[1] The self-effacing nature of his playing made him a perfect accompanist for pianists such as Teddy Wilson and Al Haig and for singers including Carol Kidd and Blossom Dearie.[1] Although less well known for his work as an arranger, Ganley provided charts for many leading British jazz musicians as well as for the BBC Radio Big Band.[1]

In 1995, Ganley fell and broke his ankle. Due to this incident and the shock which caused his hair to fall out, he did not play the drums for some time. He would regularly appear on stage wearing a large floppy beret. His drumming continued to entertain jazz lovers until his sudden death in early 2008. It has been stated that, "his work in particular with the late John Dankworth and his singing partner Cleo Laine, along with American saxophonist Scott Hamilton, the pianist Brian Lemon and the singer Elaine Delmar, provided an outstanding example of inspired tact and rhythmic intelligence."[5]

Ganley died at Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, on 29 March 2008.[2]

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With John Dankworth

With Tubby Hayes

With Scott Hamilton

With Cleo Laine

With Spike Robinson

With others

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz. Colin Larkin. Guinness Publishing. 1992. First. 0-85112-580-8. 155/6.
  2. News: Obituary: Allan Ganley. 7 April 2008. The Guardian. 27 July 2021.
  3. Book: Kernfeld, Barry. The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. 2. 2002. Grove's Dictionaries Inc.. New York. 1561592846. Second. Barry Kernfeld. 9–10. Ganley, Allan (Anthony).
  4. News: Fordham . John . 2008-04-07 . Allan Ganley . 2024-06-23 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  5. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1583715/Allan-Ganley.html Allan Ganley Obituary

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