[Dixielandjazz] Vale Allan Browne

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Friends.
It is with sadness that I advise the death of Allan Browne, one of Australia's foremost jazz drummers.

Allan Vincent Browne was born in Deniliquin, NSW on 28 July 1944 and, as a teenager in 1961, joined the Melbourne jazz scene as co-founder (with Brett Iggulden and Bill Howard) of the extremely popular Red Onion Jazz Band. The group recorded, toured internationally twice, broke up mutually in 1975 but re-formed regularly for festivals, another European tour and special events. 
He gained a solid reputation in Australia as a drummer across the whole jazz spectrum working with both traditional and modern groups including his own trio and groups Onaje and The New Orleans Rascals, 
Allan also recorded extensively with others, was a music teacher, composer, published writer and poet and a generous mentor to young musicians.
Over the years he was an executive member of several prestigious Australian music committees, was honoured with an OAM in 2013 and received numerous Australian music Awards. 
Despite several health setbacks following a lung transplant in 2002 Allan continued to tour, perform regularly at clubs, concerts and festivals, held long residencies and was a working musician until being rushed to hospital on Sunday, 7 June 2015. The following week Allan had been booked to play the final night of the long-lived Bennetts Lane jazz club in Melbourne on 15 June but did not make it. 
He died in hospital last Sunday, 13 June 2015.
I have lost a very old friend; Australian jazz has lost a dedicated activist, a remarkable musician and an extraordinary character.    

Very kind regards,
Bill.