John Von Ohlen

John Von Ohlen (May 13, 1941, Indianapolis, Indiana – October 3, 2018) was an American jazz drummer who worked for Woody Herman in 1967 and 1969 as well as with Stan Kenton from 1970 to 1972.^[1] He began playing trombone in middle school and played in band through high school.^[2] He graduated from North Central High School in Indianapolis in 1960.^[3] He briefly attended North Texas State University in Denton, Texas and returned to Indianapolis.^[2]

Von Ohlen led the Blue Wisp Big Band in Cincinnati from 1980 to 2018^[4] and his own groups under his name; they ranged from quartets to big band. From 1967 to 1968, he toured with Billy Maxted’s Manhattan Jazz Band. In the 1980s and 1990s, Von Ohlen was a member of a big band led by the pianist Steve Allee.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]}

Von Ohlen died on October 3, 2018, in Cincinnati, Ohio at the age of 77.^[1][11]

Discography

• John Von Ohlen – The Baron
• John Von Ohlen & Steve Allee Big Band – Live

With Blue Wisp Big Band

• The Blue Wisp Band of Cincinnati
• Butterfly
• The Smooth One
• Live at Carmelo's
• Rollin' with Von Ohlen
• Tribute
• 20th Anniversary

With Stan Kenton

• Live at Redlands University
• Today
• Live at Brigham Young University
• The Ballad Style of Stan Kenton

With others

• Chuck Carter/Steve Allee Big Band – Downtown Blues
• Woody Herman – Concerto for Herd
• Cal Collins – Crack'd Rib