...Von is one of the finest ensemble players around, always taking sensitive stylistic cues from his fellow performers..

As a top call drummer in the southeast for the last ten years, Von has never been accused of being inexperienced as his resume reads like a veritable who’s who in jazz and pop music. Mose Allison, O.C. Smith, Lou Rawls, The Ray Charles Trio, Arthur Prysock, Les McCann, Eddie Harris, Bobby Hutcherson, Bunky Green, Roy Ayers , Etta James , Buddy DeFranco , Ray Brown,Ira Sullivan , Pete Jolly, Bobby Bluebland, Joe Sample , Barney Kessel , Buster Williams , Longineu Parsons , Ben Tucker , Marcus Roberts , Harry Connick Jr, Della Reese , Jack Wilson, are just some of the names Von has performed and recorded with.

Von has also been the house drummer for the Jacksonville Jazz Festival for several years and has played in the festival’s Great American Piano Competition rhythm section four times, including the first year when Marcus Roberts and Harry Connick Jr. were a part,( Marcus won , but look how far Harry has come) Von played with the late great O.C. Smith at the famous Woodstock Festival of 1969 , Montery Jazz Festival, Madison Square Garden , The Apollo , The Hollywood Bowl , The Coconut Grove and many articles including 1966, 1967 and 1968 Downbeat Magazine . For some years, he played with Ben Tucker and various renowned guest artists at Hannah’s in historic Savannah. He also performed frequently for the Hilton Head Jazz Society, and Von is seen a lot with Longineu Parsons Tribal Disorder (hard core off the chain music) , Von , Lawrence Buckner ( bassist) , Neal Faison (guitar) , which makes up the foundation of the rhythm section , have been on many tours together, places like France, Spain and are working on a tour of Italy at the end of 2006. Here are some sample clips, click here http://www.prince.org/msg/8/178505 http://www.prince.org/msg/100/158893.

One of the finest ensemble players around, always taking sensitive stylistic cues from his fellow performers, engaging in sympathetic and interesting dialog with any ensemble in which he plays. His stick work is never studied or monotonous, but filled with thoughtful listening and original thinking. Capable of the artistic understatement necessary in a quiet restaurant, Von is equally famous for his fiery jazz drumming as well as his floor filling dance grooves. Truly he is a seasoned performer and a master of his craft.

Special thanks to Dr. Billy Moore , my high school band director , the man that gave me my first set of drum sticks, and teaching , also a thanks to Mr. Geno Gonzales for pointing me to one of the greatest drummer of all time , the late great Tony Williams.

Thanks a lot to the columnist for the many kind words , Shelton Hull (Folioweekly) , Rick Grant (Entertaining U) , Sean Johnson (Quick Read), and Leonard Feather (Down Beat Jazz Mag 1967-69), just to name a few.