Biography
Jack Clarence Allan entered the world on 28 September 1929 in Sydney, Australia, and left it on 7 February 1995 at the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Accordion occupied his childhood hours until he turned to piano during adolescence. Sydney cabaret venues and clubs provided his initial employment, where the swing-era keyboardists, most notably Teddy Wilson, shaped his approach even as he emerged among the scant number of Australian players embracing the first post-war modern jazz idioms. His initial session took place in November 1949 alongside Rex Stewart And His Sydney Six; the American visitor subsequently called on him for two further dates. Allan’s own ensemble, the Katzenjammers, entered the studio for the first time in February 1950. Throughout the early fifties the group maintained a steady schedule of performances and recordings, its lineup shifting among musicians that included Ken Silver, Don Burrows, Errol Buddle, John Bamford and Edwin Duff. Steady work at the ABC as a studio musician followed, accompanied by duties as writer and director of musical revues.
Acting opportunities opened from the mid-fifties onward. His ample frame frequently led to casting as a menacing figure, a convivial drinker or an onstage performer. Screen appearances encompassed On The Beach, Ned Kelly, They’re A Weird Mob and Caddie, together with many television roles. Although his keyboard skills remained undiminished, live engagements grew sporadic. A 1983 collaboration with percussionist John Sangster preceded a poised, swinging solo album issued the next year on the Anteater label. Relocating northward to the Sunshine Coast placed him in semi-retirement, interrupted only by occasional acting or musical work. Widely respected for both solo and accompanying piano, Allan’s cheerful exuberance tended to mask the depth of his musical dedication.
Acting opportunities opened from the mid-fifties onward. His ample frame frequently led to casting as a menacing figure, a convivial drinker or an onstage performer. Screen appearances encompassed On The Beach, Ned Kelly, They’re A Weird Mob and Caddie, together with many television roles. Although his keyboard skills remained undiminished, live engagements grew sporadic. A 1983 collaboration with percussionist John Sangster preceded a poised, swinging solo album issued the next year on the Anteater label. Relocating northward to the Sunshine Coast placed him in semi-retirement, interrupted only by occasional acting or musical work. Widely respected for both solo and accompanying piano, Allan’s cheerful exuberance tended to mask the depth of his musical dedication.
Singles
