Towner Galaher
Towner Galaher is a renowned jazz drummer, composer, bandleader, and educator based in New Jersey, celebrated for his work in soul jazz, hard bop, and funk jazz.
Biography and Early Career
Towner Galaher was born in Portland, Oregon in 1955 and began playing drums at the age of nine. He honed his skills through intensive practice during high school and quickly entered the professional music scene, performing in rhythm and blues bands that covered Motown, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Tower of Power material. His early mentor was jazz drummer Mel Brown, who played with The Temptations and The Supremes. Galaher moved to New York City in 1986, where he became a prominent figure in the jazz scene jazzmusicarchives.com+1.
Musical Style and Projects
Galaher is known for his soul jazz, funk jazz, and hard bop styles. He has led several ensembles, including the Towner Galaher Organ Group, which emphasizes the classic organ trio format with Hammond B3 organ, guitar, and drums. His album Brothers features longtime collaborators such as B3 player Jimmy Sanders, bassist Randy Monroe, guitarist Marvin Horne, and saxophonist Craig Handy. The group is noted for its live, unrehearsed recordings, blending swing, funk, R&B, jazz waltz, and boogaloo, often drawing inspiration from 1960s soul jazz legends like Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jack McDuff, and Jimmy Smith
