Primary Instrument: Flute
The innovative style of Ron Korb, flutist and composer, is garnering a buzz around the globe. Jazz with influences from a broad range of world music styles (Latin, Caribbean, Chinese and Japanese music), the different influences seemlessly complement each other.
Korb is an incredible flutist with unsurpassed tone and expressiveness. He is extremely versatile and he can improvise on bamboo flute in an authentic Japanese style, run full tilt on the penny whistle and then play some Latin jazz tunes like Casco Viejo and Dark Eyes with a groove and feel that Dave Valetin or Nestor Torres would admire.
Ron graduated from the University of Toronto with an honours degree in flute performance. The members of his band have know each other for over 20 years. They met while studying jazz at York University in Toronto. The bassist (Steve Bright) and drummer (Larry Crowe) went on to study with Dave Holland and John Abercrombie at the Banff school of Fine Arts. The guitarist (Ray Hickey, Jr.) studied with Chick Corea electric Band alumni Frank Gamble in LA. The pianist, Bill Evans, is fluid in New Orleans, stride and be-bop. Although they all have a solid background in traditional Jazz this group has developed a completely new sound. Ron Korb and his band have performed in major venues in Europe and across the USA, Canada, and Asia.
For example, the music on the Ron Korb Live DVD and CD runs the gamut from the understated smokey classiness of the ballad Green Eyed Maiden to the exotic sound of Shadow Dance based on a South East Asian scale and a reggae rhythm to the excitement Celtic/ Fusion piece Long Shadows.
Ron Korb's career is characterized by mesmerizing audiences with dynamic performances of beautiful original music and interesting arrangements that are accessible but also introduce new sounds and instruments to delighted audiences.
