Ron Korb

Ron Korb is a world renowned flute virtuoso, composer and international recording artist with 10 internationally released solo CDs and a DVD. He has been traveling for years collecting and studying indigenous woodwinds from Japan, China, Indonesia, Cambodia and Ireland. Ron's music is steeped in the diverse cultural traditions and experiences of his travels. Ron has performed in major venues in Europe and across the USA, Canada and Asia.

Ron first had an opportunity to explore a musical instrument he was eleven and he played the recorder in school. His teachers and classmates soon discovered that Ron had a natural talent to play by ear and create melodies.

One of Ron's first performance experiences was playing in an Irish fife and drum band in high school. The jigs, reels and ballads that he played were the foundation of his appreciation of Celtic music. During his teens, Ron also collected jazz records and often went to see the jazz legends in concert.

Ron won a scholarship to study at The University of Toronto, Faculty of Music. He graduated with honours with a bachelor's in flute performance. By 1988, the classical flute no longer interested Ron as it had in prior years. Coming upon a Chinese bamboo flute by chance, he knew immediately he had found his new voice.

As his interest in bamboo flutes grew, Ron moved to Japan and formally studied the traditional flutes. He was fortunate enough to study with a well known master Michiko Akao who taught him the intricacies of Japanese Gagaku court music and many of the bamboo flutes which he uses in his recordings and live performances. He was also fortunate to befriend many great traditional musicians including shakuhachi players like John Kaizan Neptune and Tani Senzan and to be exposed to new playing styles. Ron Korb was both discovering his cultural heritage and who he was as a musician.

These influences are reflected in Ron's many compositions, creating a hybrid of jazz and world music and a truly original sound.

Here is a summary of Ron Korb's international music releases:

Our Native Land CD, Ron Korb
Released 2006
Label: Mill Valley
Genre: Inspired by Native Canadian Music

Seasons CD, Ron Korb/Donald Quan
Released 2005
Label: Humble Dragon
Genre: Christmas Carols

Ron Korb Live DVD, Ron Korb
Released 2004
Label: Humble Dragon
Genre: World Music, Jazz, Japanese Music, Celtic

Ron Korb Live CD, Ron Korb
Released 2004
Label: Humble Dragon
Genre: World Music, Jazz, Japanese Music, Celtic, Latin, Reggae, Calypso

Celtic Heartland CD
Ron Korb Released 2000
Label: Humble Dragon
Genre: World Music, Celtic

Taming the Dragon CD, Ron Korb
Released: 1999
Label: Alcione
Genre: World Music/Asian/Japanese

Behind the Mask CD, Ron Korb Released 1995
Label: Humble Dragon
Genre: World Music, Japanese Music, Celtic, Latin, Reggae, Calypso

Flute Traveller CD, Ron Korb
Released 1994
Label: Humble Dragon
Genre: World Music, Japanese, Chinese

Flute Traveller features stunning improvisation on World flutes: Bansuri (North Indian Flute), Ba Wu (Chinese flute), Di Tzu (Chinese Flute), Irish Porcelain Flute, Mocheno (Bolivia), Native American Flute, Ryuteki (Japanese Flute), Shinobue (Japanese Flute), Suling (Indonesia), Chilean Ocarina

Japanese Mysteries, Ron Korb with Hiroki Sakaguchi,
Label: Humble Dragon
Released 1993
Genre: World Music, Japanese
Featues Original Compositions and Traditional Japanese Music

Tear of the Sun CD, Ron Korb/Donald Quan
Released 1990
Label: Humble Dragon
Genre: World Music, Japanese, Chinese

Tapestries Celtic Dawn CD
Released: 1999
Label: Holborne
Genre: World Music, Celtic

Tapestries Celtic Quest CD
Released: 1996
Label: Holborne
Genre: World Music, Celtic, New Age

SOUTH EAST ASIA

Romancing the Dragon: The Best of Ron Korb, Ron Korb
Label: Orange Music (Singapore) Genre: World Music, Japanese, Chinese, Celtic, Reggae

World Of Ron Korb, Ron Korb
Label: Orange Music (Singapore)
Genre: World Music, Japanese Music, Chinese, Celtic

ASIA:

Releasd by Jingo with packaging and liner notes in Chinese.

- Taming the Dragon
- Celtic Heartland
- Behind the Mask
- Celtic Quest