Allan Anthony Ganley (11 March 1931 – 29 March 2008) was an English

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

drummer and arranger.

Career

Ganley was born in

Tolworth Tolworth is a suburban area in the Surbiton district, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Greater London. It is southwest of Charing Cross. Neighbouring places include Long Ditton, New Malden, Kingston, Surbiton, Berrylands, Hinchley Wood, ...

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

, England. A self-taught drummer, in the early 1950s Ganley played in the dance band led by

Bert Ambrose Benjamin Baruch Ambrose (11 September 1896 – 11 June 1971), known professionally as Ambrose or Bert Ambrose, was an English bandleader and violinist. Ambrose became the leader of a highly acclaimed British dance band, ''Bert Ambrose & His Orc ...

. In 1953, he came to prominence as a member of

Johnny Dankworth Johnny is an English language personal name. It is usually an affectionate diminutive of the masculine given name John, but from the 16th century it has sometimes been a given name in its own right for males and, less commonly, females. Variant ...

's band. Also in the 1950s, he worked with Derek Smith,

Dizzy Reece Alphonso Son "Dizzy" Reece (born 5 January 1931) is a Jamaican-born hard bop jazz trumpeter. Reece is among a group of jazz musicians born in Jamaica which includes Bertie King, Joe Harriott, Roland Alphonso, Wilton Gaynair, Sonny Bradshaw, ...

Vic Ash Victor "Vic" Ash (9 March 1930, in East London – 24 October 2014) was an English jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. He was of Jewish ancestry. Biography Ash began playing professionally in 1951 when, with Tubby Hayes, he joined the band o ...

, and

Ronnie Scott Ronnie may refer to: *Ronnie (name), a unisex pet name and given name * "Ronnie" (Four Seasons song), a song by Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe *"Ronnie," a song from the Metallica album '' Load'' *Ronnie Brunswijkstadion, an association football stadium ...

. Towards the end of the decade he was co-leader with

Ronnie Ross Albert Ronald Ross (2 October 1933 – 12 December 1991) was a British jazz baritone saxophonist. Life Born in Calcutta, India, to Scottish parents, Ross moved to England in 1946 and was educated at the Perse School in Cambridge. He beg ...

of a small group known as the Jazzmakers. In the early 1960s, Ganley often worked with

Tubby Hayes Edward Brian "Tubby" Hayes (30 January 1935 – 8 June 1973) was an English jazz multi-instrumentalist, best known for his tenor saxophone playing in groups with fellow sax player Ronnie Scott and with trumpeter Jimmy Deuchar. Early life H ...

, playing with his small groups and the occasionally assembled big band. As house drummer at

Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is a jazz club that has operated in Soho, London, since 1959. History The club opened on 30 October 1959 in a basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London's Soho district. It was set up and managed by musicians Ronnie Sco ...

he played with

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but addi ...

Stan Getz Stanley Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of ...

, Jim Hall,

Freddie Hubbard Frederick Dewayne Hubbard (April 7, 1938 – December 29, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter. He played bebop, hard bop, and post-bop styles from the early 1960s onwards. His unmistakable and influential tone contributed to new perspectives fo ...

, and

Rahsaan Roland Kirk Rahsaan Roland Kirk (born Ronald Theodore Kirk; August 7, 1935Kernfeld, Barry.Kirk, Roland" ''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'', 2nd ed. Ed. Barry Kernfeld. ''Grove Music Online''. ''Oxford Music Online''. Retrieved February 1, 2009-. "The year ...

. In the early 1970s he took time out to study at

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...

in Boston, Massachusetts, then returned to the UK to form and lead a big band which he maintained sporadically for the next 10 years. 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. In the 1990s Ganley was as active as ever, playing club and festival dates throughout the UK with occasional overseas trips. The self-effacing nature of his playing made him a perfect accompanist for pianists such as

Teddy Wilson Theodore Shaw Wilson (November 24, 1912 – July 31, 1986) was an American jazz pianist. Described by critic Scott Yanow as "the definitive swing pianist", Wilson had a sophisticated, elegant style. His work was featured on the records of ma ...

and

Al Haig Alan Warren Haig (July 19, 1922 – November 16, 1982) was an American jazz pianist, best known as one of the pioneers of bebop. Biography Haig was born in Newark, New Jersey and raised in nearby Nutley. In 1940, he majored in piano at Obe ...

and for singers including

Carol Kidd Carol Kidd MBE (born 19 October 1945) is a Scottish jazz singer. Kidd was born in Glasgow, Scotland. She came to prominence in the mid-1970s, as the vocalist in the band led by vibraphonist / saxophonist Jimmy Feighan. In 1990, she released he ...

and

Blossom Dearie Margrethe Blossom Dearie (April 28, 1924 – February 7, 2009) was an American jazz singer and pianist. She had a recognizably light and girlish voice. Profile at AllMusicDearie performed regular engagements in London and New York City over ...

. 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. 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 Sir John Phillip William Dankworth, CBE (20 September 1927 – 6 February 2010), also known as Johnny Dankworth, was an English jazz composer, saxophonist, clarinettist and writer of film scores. With his wife, jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine, he ...

and his singing partner

Cleo Laine Dame Cleo Laine, Lady Dankworth (born Clementine Dinah Bullock; 28 October 1927)Brian Lemon Brian Lemon (11 February 1937 – 11 October 2014) was a British jazz pianist and arranger. Biography Lemon was born in Nottingham, England. After leaving school in the 1950s, he began playing professionally at Nottingham's Palais de Danse and ...

and the singer Elaine Delmar, provided an outstanding example of inspired tact and rhythmic intelligence."Allan Ganley Obituary
''

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It was fo ...

'' Retrieved 21 May 2020. Ganley died at

Wexham Park Hospital Wexham Park Hospital is a large National Health Service, NHS hospital in Slough, Berkshire. It has been managed by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust since 2014. Andrew Valentine Morris, Sir Andrew Morris is the chief executive of Frimley Health ...

Slough Slough () is a town and unparished area in the unitary authority of the same name in Berkshire, England, bordering west London. It lies in the Thames Valley, west of central London and north-east of Reading, at the intersection of the M4 ...

, on 29 March 2008.

Discography

As leader

* ''The Jazz Makers'' with Ronnie Ross (Atlantic, 1960) * ''Bebop Live'' with the University College School All Stars (Spotlite, 2001)

As sideman

With

* ''Fair Oak Fusions'' (Sepia, 1982) * ''About 42 Years Later'' (Avid, 2007) With

* ''Down in the Village'' (Fontana, 1963) * ''Late Spot at Scott's'' (Fontana, 1963) * ''A Tribute to Tubbs'' (Spotlite, 1981) * ''Tubbs' Tours'' (Mole, 1981) * ''England's Late Jazz Great'' (IAJRC, 1987) * ''Live in London'' (Harkit, 2004) * ''BBC Jazz for Moderns'' (Gearbox, 2009) * ''Voodoo Session'' (Trunk, 2009) * ''Dancing in the Dark'' (Savage Solweig, 2011) * ''Live at Ronnie Scott's'' (Gearbox, 2017) With Scott Hamilton * ''East of the Sun'' (Concord Jazz, 1993) * ''Live at Brecon Jazz Festival'' (Concord Jazz, 1995) * ''Christmas Love Song'' (Concord Jazz, 1997) With

Cleo Laine Dame Cleo Laine, Lady Dankworth (born Clementine Dinah Bullock; 28 October 1927)Spike Robinson Henry Bertholf "Spike" Robinson (January 16, 1930 – October 29, 2001) was a jazz tenor saxophonist. He began playing at age twelve, recording on several labels, including Discovery, Hep and Concord. However, he sought an engineering degree and ...

* ''It's a Wonderful World'' (Capri, 1985) * ''In Town'' (Hep, 1987) * ''The Gershwin Collection'' (Hep, 1988) With others *

, ''The Eyes Have It'' (ABCDs, 1995) * Bob Barnard, ''Class!'' (Calligraph, 1988) *

Ruby Braff Reuben "Ruby" Braff (March 16, 1927 – February 9, 2003) was an American jazz trumpeter and cornetist. Jack Teagarden was once asked about him on the Garry Moore television show and described Ruby as "the Ivy League Louis Armstrong". Braff ...

, ''First Set'' (Zephyr, 1997) * Ruby Braff, ''The Second Set'' (Zephyr, 1998) *

Dave Cliff Dave Cliff (born 25 June 1944) is a British jazz guitarist. Career Cliff was born in Hexham, Northumberland. In 1967, he moved to Leeds and gained a diploma in jazz studies from Leeds College of Music while studying with bassist Peter Ind an ...

, ''When Lights Are Low'' (Zephyr, 1998) *

Tony Coe Anthony George Coe (born 29 November 1934) is an English jazz musician who plays clarinet, bass clarinet, flute as well as soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones. Career Born in Canterbury, Kent, England, Coe started out on clarinet and was self- ...

, ''Blue Jersey'' (ABCDs, 1995) * Tony Coe/ Alan Barnes, ''Days of Wine and Roses'' (Zephyr, 1998) *

Kenny Davern John Kenneth Davern (January 7, 1935 – December 12, 2006) was an American jazz clarinetist. Biography He was born in Huntington, Long Island, to a family of mixed Jewish and Irish-Catholic ancestry. His mother's family originally came from Vi ...

, ''The Very Thought of You'' (Milton Keynes Music, 1984) *

, ''Sweet Blossom Dearie'' (Philips, 1990) * Blossom Dearie, ''Live in London'' (Harkit, 2002) *

Brian Dee Brian Colin Dee (born 21 March 1936, London, England) is an English jazz pianist and former musical director. Biography Dee's musical career started in 1956 after his service with the Royal Air Force was finished. He came to prominence in 1959, ...

, ''Swing Doodle'' (Raphaele, 1980) *

Elaine Delmar Elaine Delmar (born 13 September 1939) is a British singer and actress, with a long career in stage acting, music recording and concert performances. Born in Harpenden, she is the daughter of Jamaican jazz trumpeter Leslie "Jiver" Hutchinson. Af ...

, ''Strike Up the Band: Elaine Delmar Sings George Gershwin'' (Joy, 2006) *

Jack Dieval Jack may refer to: Places * Jack, Alabama, US, an unincorporated community * Jack, Missouri, US, an unincorporated community * Jack County, Texas, a county in Texas, USA People and fictional characters * Jack (given name), a male given name, ...

, ''Jack Dieval Trio'' (I.T.S. 1978) *

Elena Duran Elena may refer to: People * Elena (given name), including a list of people and characters with this name * Joan Ignasi Elena (born 1968), Catalan politician * Francine Elena (born 1986), British poet Geography * Elena (town), a town in Veliko ...

, ''California Suite/Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano'' (RCA, 1981) * Elena Duran, Stephane Grappelli, Laurie Holloway, ''Brandenburg Boogie'' (His Master's Voice, 1980) *

Slim Gaillard Bulee "Slim" Gaillard (January 9, 1911 – February 26, 1991), also known as McVouty, was an American jazz singer and songwriter who played piano, guitar, vibraphone, and tenor saxophone. Gaillard was noted for his comedic vocalese singing ...

, ''Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere!'' (Hep, 1983) *

, ''Live in London'' (Harkit, 2002) * Stan Getz, ''Live in London Vol. 2'' (Harkit, 2004) * Kenny Graham, ''Presenting Kenny Graham'' (Vocalion, 2008) *

Stephane Grappelli Stephane may refer to: * Stéphane, a French given name * Stephane (Ancient Greece) A stephane (''ancient Greek'' στέφανος, from ''στέφω'' (stéphō, “I encircle”), '' Lat.'' Stephanus = wreath, decorative wreath worn on the head ...

, ''Just One of Those Things'' (EMI, 1984) * Jim Hall, '' Commitment'' (A&M/Horizon, 1976) * Jim Hall, ''Live in London'' (Harkit, 2019) *

Joe Harriott Joseph Arthurlin Harriott (15 July 1928 – 2 January 1973) was a Jamaican jazz musician and composer, whose principal instrument was the alto saxophone. Initially a bebopper, he became a pioneer of free-form jazz. Born in Kingston, Harriott ...

John Mayer John Clayton Mayer ( ; born October 16, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Born and raised in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Mayer attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, but left and moved to Atlanta in 1997 with ...

, ''Indo-Jazz Suite'' (Columbia, 1966) * Joe Harriott & John Mayer, ''Indo-Jazz Fusions'' (Columbia, 1967) *

Laurie Holloway Laurence Holloway (born 31 March 1938) is an English pianist and composer from Oldham, Lancashire, England. He is perhaps best known as the Musical Director for Michael Parkinson's chat show, firstly on the BBC then ITV. He also was Musical Direc ...

, ''Hit Parade Holloway Style'' (Pye, 1966) * Laurie Holloway & Cleo Laine, ''Loesser Genius'' (Qnote, 2003) *

, ''The Night We Called It a Day'' (Linn, 1990) * Carol Kidd, ''I'm Glad We Met'' (Linn, 1991) *

Roland Kirk Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Franks, Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known ...

, ''Gifts and Messages'' (Ronnie Scott's Jazz House, 1996) *

Brian Lemon Brian Lemon (11 February 1937 – 11 October 2014) was a British jazz pianist and arranger. Biography Lemon was born in Nottingham, England. After leaving school in the 1950s, he began playing professionally at Nottingham's Palais de Danse and ...

& Roy Williams, ''How Long Has This Been Going On?'' (Zephyr, 1996) * Brian Lemon, ''My Shining Hour'' (Zephyr, 2001) *

Bill Le Sage William A. Le Sage (20 January 1927 – 31 October 2001) was a British pianist, vibraphonist, arranger, composer and bandleader. Early life Le Sage was born in London on 20 January 1927. His father, William (1899-1951) was a drummer and his two ...

, ''The Bill Le Sage/Ronnie Ross Quartet'' (World Record Club, 1964) *

Vic Lewis Victor Lewis MBE (29 July 1919 – 9 February 2009) was a British jazz guitarist and bandleader. He also enjoyed success as an artists' agent and manager. Biography He was born in London, England. Lewis began playing the guitar at the age o ...

, ''Big Band Explosion'' (Ember, 1964) *

, ''Indo-Jazz-Fusions'' (Disques Somethin' Else 1969) *

Yehudi Menuhin Yehudi or Jehudi (Hebrew: יהודי, endonym for Jew) is a common Hebrew name: * Yehudi Menuhin (1916–1999), violinist and conductor ** Yehudi Menuhin School, a music school in Surrey, England ** Who's Yehoodi?, a catchphrase referring to the v ...

, ''Top Hat'' (His Master's Voice, 1984) * Yehudi Menuhin & Stephane Grappelli, ''Menuhin & Grappelli Play Jealousy & Other Great Standards'' (EMI, 1988) *

Marion Montgomery Marion Montgomery (November 17, 1934 – July 22, 2002)

, ''I Gotta Right to Sing'' (Ronnie Scott's Jazz House, 1988) * Marion Montgomery, ''Sometimes in the Night'' (Elgin, 1989) * David Newton, ''Victim of Circumstance'' (Linn, 1990) * David Newton, ''Eye Witness'' (Linn, 1991) *

Steve Race Stephen Russell "Steve" Race OBE (1 April 192122 June 2009) was a British composer, pianist and radio and television presenter. Biography Born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, the son of a lawyer, Race learned the piano from the age of five.Spencer L ...

, ''Take One'' (World Record Club, 1965) *

Ernest Ranglin Ernest Ranglin (born 19 June 1932) is a Jamaican guitarist and composer who established his career while working as a session guitarist and music director for various Jamaican record labels including Studio One (record label), Studio One and I ...

, ''Wranglin' '' (Island, 1964) *

Angela Richards Angela Richards (born 18 December 1944 in London) is an English actress. A graduate of RADA, she is also known for her body of work in musical theatre. Biography Theatre Richards has starred in several West End productions such as ''Robert a ...

, ''Au Cafe Candide'' (BBC, 1981) *

Phil Seamen Philip William Seamen (28 August 1926 – 13 October 1972) was an English jazz drummer. With a background in big band music, Seamen played and recorded in a wide range of musical contexts with virtually every key figure of 1950s and 1960s Brit ...

, ''Ronnie Scott Quintet & Phil Seamen Quintet'' (Gearbox, 2011) * Martin Taylor, ''Don't Fret!'' (Linn, 1990) * Warren Vaché & Alan Barnes, ''Memories of You'' (Zephyr, 1999) * Warren Vache & Tony Coe, ''Street of Dreams'' (Zephyr, 1999) * Warren Vache & Tony Coe, ''Jumpin'' (Zephyr, 1999) * Warren Vache & Dave Cliff, ''The Best Thing for You'' (Zephyr, 2001) *

Mary Lou Williams Mary Lou Williams (born Mary Elfrieda Scruggs; May 8, 1910 – May 28, 1981) was an American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer. She wrote hundreds of compositions and arrangements and recorded more than one hundred records (in 78, 45, and ...

, ''The London Sessions'' (Vogue, 1993) *

Kai Winding Kai Chresten Winding ( ; May 18, 1922 – May 6, 1983) was a Danish-born American trombonist and jazz composer. He is known for his collaborations with fellow trombonist J. J. Johnson. His version of "More", the theme from the movie ''Mondo Ca ...

/Mangelsdorff/Watrous/Whigham, ''Trombone Summit'' (MPS, 1981)

References

External links

Obituary in The Telegraph
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ganley, Allan 1931 births 2008 deaths People from Tolworth British music arrangers English jazz drummers British male drummers British male jazz musicians 20th-century British male musicians