Allen Ganley, who died last week at the age of seventy-seven, was the preferred drummer not only of many of his fellow British musicians, but also of visiting Americans. He backed Stan Getz, Peggy Lee, Mary Lou Williams, Jim Hall, Art Farmer, Blossom Dearie, Roland Kirk and Freddie Hubbard, among many others.
For years, Ganley was in the quintet and big band led by the volatile tenor saxophonist Tubby Hayes. There is in this video clip from 1965 a prime instance of Ganley driving a band and soloing. The piece is “Killers of W1”. (W1 is London’s West End). The trumpeter is Jimmy Deuchar. In the same YouTube neighborhood you’ll find several other clips of Ganley with Hayes. He is also prominent on the Hayes CD Tubbs.
For a review of Ganley’s career, see his obituary from the Telegraph newspaper. The three men in the obit photograph are (l to r) Ganley, Victor Feldman and Ronnie Scott.
See also Steve Voce’s obituary in the Independent newspaper
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/allan-ganley-drummer-of-faultless-instinct-who-played-with-all-the-jazz-greats-804925.html
Thanks Doug for the mention of Ganley’s death. We are still reeling over here at the loss. One of the UK’s greatest musicians who appeared to have played with everyone of note. I saw him probably more than any other drummer, especially in the late fifties and sixties and whatever the context his playing was always appropriate and musical.
I saw him last year in concert with Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine and my friends and I were knocked out that he was still playing as well as he ever had, at the age of 76.
Reference the photo you mentioned in the obit. I am sure that it was drummer, composer, pianist Tony Crombie on the right and not Ronnie Scott.