Alan Turnbull
Alan Turnbull was the jazz drummer whose swing feel helped set the standard for Australian rhythm sections, heard with Don Burrows and on soundtrack sessions such as John Sangster's Fluteman.
His long partnership with bassist Ed Gaston became a model for swing time in local bands. Turnbull worked as a freelance drummer across clubs, concerts and festivals with the Don Burrows quartet, and on record he supplies the kit and finger-cymbals for Sangster's Fluteman score, locking with Chris Qua while Burrows, Golla and a reed section colour the film cues. The playing is supportive, lightly sprung and built for the ensemble rather than display.
Alan Turnbull appears on
Fluteman
John Sangster wrote the score for the little-known 1982 Australian film Fluteman. Led by Don Burrows on flute, with eight other jazz players, the music makes wonderful listening quite apart from the picture.