Ola Hanson, Trombone

Trombonist Ola Hanson was born on April 25, 1932 in Canton, Ohio to a musical family. Ola's mother, a music teacher, passed away when Ola was three, and his grandmother helped to raise him and his sister Carolyn. His father, also a music teacher, encouraged the children to take up music. Ola began to play the violin at the age of four and, by age six, was taking three lessons a week and performing publicly with his sister in a violin duo. When he was 13, Ola injured his middle finger, exposing a nerve, and, because of the pain, decided to give up the violin and play the trombone.

In 1950, Ola graduated from Canton-McKinley High School. He came to Columbus and attended The Ohio State University, studying music. After three years at OSU, Ola was drafted into the Army. He played in the 3rd Army Division Band (an all- white band) at Fort Knox, but was soon integrated into the 36th Division Band (one of the last integrated bands in the Army). It was with this band that he received his true music education, playing all-day jam sessions with musical greats Cannonball Adderly, Nat Adderly, Junior Mance, and Curtis Fuller.

After the Army, Ola went back to school, this time at Ohio University. He spent a year at OU, but left in 1956 to join Chuz Alfred's band. While playing with Chuz's band, Ola met his future wife, Nancy, at the Driftwood Inn. In 1957, Ola and Nancy married, and Ola joined Kai Winding's Septet. A year later, Ola's son Erik was born, and Ola was asked to join Buddy Rich's quintet with Sonny Criss, Kenny Drew and Phil Leshin. Ola remained with the Buddy Rich Quintet for a year and a half.

In 1960 Ola decided to leave the road and returned to Columbus with his family, working at Coyle Music, teaching and performing locally with Al Waslohn, Jerry Kaye, Doc Everhart, the Capital City Jazz Band, and many other groups. In 1973, Ola became a founding member of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. The next year, he became an independent contractor for an interior design business, while still performing on nights and weekends. He retired in 1994.

In 1983, Ola's wife, Nancy, encouraged him to get his damaged nerve repaired in his left hand. He did so, and upon recovery, began to play the violin again after nearly 40 years. Since then, “Tiny the Talking Violin" has delighted CJO audiences at its many appearances.

In all his years of performing, Ola's proudest musical accomplishments are his two appearances at Birdland in New York City with Buddy Rich and Kai Winding. Another interesting musical accomplishment: Ola has only missed one performance with the CJO, because he was playing a Broadway show with Mickey Rooney.

When not performing with the CJO, Ola performs with Saint James Inferno, Strings and Things, and teaches trombone and violin at Colonial Music in Westerville. He also enjoys playing golf and travels with his wife Nancy. Together they have three children and six grandchildren.