Allan Ganley

Published Tuesday 13 May 2008 at 11:00 by Dave Gelly

Award-winning drummer, composer and arranger Allan Ganley, who worked with stars including Cleo Laine, Tubby Hayes, Elaine Delmar, Robert Farnon, Henry Mancini and Nelson Riddle, died aged 77 on March 29.

Born on March 11, 1931 in Surrey, he grew up to became one of the great British drummers. When he died suddenly, you could tell that he was more than respected - he was held in genuine affection. Ganley, as John Dankworth recalled, reflecting on their long association and friendship, was “the complete opposite of your assertive, big-band showman drummer”. He was calm, quietly spoken and almost painfully modest.

Yet he could bring off feats of remarkable artistry. Handed the task of accompanying the great saxophonist Art Pepper in a vast, echoing church - every drummer’s nightmare - he played with such delicacy that every beat and brush-stroke came over clear and distinct.

For three years in the mid-sixties, Allan was the resident drummer at Ronnie Scott’s, playing for the biggest names in jazz, but he remained a model of imperturbable perfection.

Approaching the age of 40, Allan took time off to study composition at the famous Berklee Music School in Boston, launching a second, parallel career as a composer and arranger. His work was played, broadcast and recorded by BBC Radio Big Band, the Dankworth Generation Band and his own specially-assembled orchestra.

In addition to winning many awards as a drummer, in 1990 he was named Composer of the Year at the British Jazz Awards. His reaction, when interviewed, was classic Ganley: “If I can do it,” he muttered, “anyone can do it”.