Tag Archives: Grammy Awards

RON KORB RECEIVES 2 GRAMMY NOMINATIONS FOR COLLABORATIONS W/ FELLOW WORLD-RENOWNED ARTISTS!

It looks like it’s red carpet time again for Canada’s leading flutist/composer! I’m so proud of my friend and client RON KORB who scored 2 more Grammy nods for albums recorded with India’s superstar composer and musician, RICKY KEJ, and for his collaborative work with Japan’s composer, producer and instrumentalist, MASA TAKUMI.
Several years ago, Ron’s album Asia Beauty was nominated for Grammy’s Best World/New Age Music album and I was thrilled to secure red carpet fashions for Ron’s beautiful wife, Jade (pictured above in Canadian designer Lucian Matis gown) then 2 years ago, the fab couple again found themselves in Los Angeles, rubbing shoulders with the world’s greatest musicians and Ron hit the stage to accept his two collaborative honours (below, with Masa Takumi) and later with Ricky Kej & Stewart Copeland for the winning Divine Tides Global music album. I spoke with Ron after all the nominations had been announced last Thursday and he kindly answered a few interview questions …..

Congratulations, Ron, on this year’s Grammy nominations for your outstanding collaborations with Indian superstar Ricky Kej, and on Masa Takumi’s album. You’ve previously won with both of these artists – you must be their lucky penny! How did these collaborations come about?  Ha ha…I think I am a lucky charm. Certainly we are all grateful for the good fortune we just received. Ricky called me and said he was putting together one of the inaugural albums for a new label called Vedam Records which is part of Universal Music Group, and Masa asked me to play on Kashira which was part of a score for Himuro Renji a Japanese Yakuza Film released this year. Linked below are the 2 nominated tracks on which Ron played….

During those 2 years of Covid isolation, you worked remotely with international musicians via internet accessibility – is this the way now that artists in far flung corners of the world get to work with each other? And how does that all work from a production perspective?  Even before the pandemic many producers and musicians were working remotely but during COVID there was no other way and that changed things forever. It is, in many ways, much easier to work remotely but I do miss the real life interaction you used to get from working with clients and other session players in those big studios back in the old days. That said, all the bed tracks of Global Canvas were done live off the floor and in person and I was with the players for most of then over-dubs too.

Your latest (30th) album, Global Canvas, was short listed for a Grammy nod this year and although it just missed the final cut, your work with Ricky and Masa will enable you to walk the red carpet in February alongside your fellow musicians. Do you see this as a great opportunity to connect with other composers and performers? Do you enjoy the “schmoozing” at the Awards ceremony and all the parties?  It is really wonderful attending the Grammy parties in Los Angeles that start the week before the actual broadcast. One of the best events is the nominees’ dinner which is the night before the ceremony. It’s an amazing party where you meet so many incredible musicians and producers. Everyone is so happy that night and that is when they give you your medallion and take an official photo.  Canada does a good job, too – the SOCAN and the Canadian Consulate parties are also particularly nice. (pictured below- at previous Grammy Awards with Ricky Kej (L), Jade, Ron, Paul Avergrinos, film composer Bear McCreay + his wife)

(above – at Socan soiree prior to Awards night)

Global Canvas is already garnering critical and audience acclaim around the world – do you anticipate receiving international honours as did your previous albums ?  I hope it can, I know this will sound insincere, but what I actually enjoy the most is getting feedback from fans and learning that people are really enjoying the music.

When writing and recording Global Canvas, you met Cambodian human rights activist Arn Chorn Pond through a personal introduction from legendary musician, Peter Gabriel. You dedicated your Angkor Wat track to him – has this connection made you even more aware of the affect of music on the world?  I think Peter Gabriel is very interested in the spiritual power of music. The Angkor Wat song does touch on that feeling. When we toured the ruins, we were amazed by the ancient architecture and I hope some of that feeling of that awe is felt within the song.You’ve performed live in some of the world’s greatest concert venues, in front of royalty and world leaders, and solo’d with great symphony orchestras in China, Japan, and all across Europe as well as home here in Canada. How does it feel to perform for such diverse audiences?  That is one of the blessings about being a musician – you can travel to a different part of the world and interact with people and even a crowd of people in direct way. Music is a very intimate form of communication. With my own music I’ve learned certain songs work better in Asia and others work better in the western world.

How can music lovers hear your new album and other music you’ve created?  Physical CDs and Mp3s copies can be ordered through my own website www.ronkorb.com and the music can also be heard on Spotify and all the streaming services.

Congratulations, Ron…fingers crossed it’s gonna be another double Grammy night for you, Masa and Ricky!
Follow Ron’s Grammy journey on his social media and of course, I’ll be posting photos of all the Awards’ week festivities with Ron & Jade.

 

 

INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED FLUTIST/COMPOSER RON KORB LAUNCHES LATEST ALBUM WITH STANDING ROOM ONLY CONCERT

Last Friday night, fans, family and friends gathered at Toronto’s 3030 Dundas West music venue and cheered, stomped, danced and even conga’d as RON KORB introduced his latest album, World Canvas, to a capacity crowd. The album’s 18 tracks incorporate Latin, Asian, Middle Eastern and European themes recorded by Ron and his band of award-winning musicians contributing their skills on a diverse range of instruments from multiple cultural heritages. It truly was a canvas of world music that took listeners on a journey of sound discovery.After the show, I asked Ron to share his impressions of the night and he graciously offered the following…

Ron, congratulations on a wonderful night of music and entertainment. We all loved the show out in the audience…how was it for you up on stage?  Because there was a lot of new material in the show it’s always that mixture of excitement and concern about how it will come off and how the audience will react. But from the moment I walked out and played the first note it just felt great.

The players from the Samba Squad added some serious Brazilian vibes – you incorporated so many diverse music elements, how difficult is it to find players who are expert on the various cultural instruments?  We are very lucky in Toronto because it is a place where so many cultures live and thrive. Although I had some difficulty finding Korean musicians in Canada this time, I have known master percussionist Rick Shadrach Lazar and his group Samba Squad for decades so it was fairly easy and fun to incorporate the Brazilian vibe and to get them to play the show live. (below – Xiaoqiu Lin on the erhu)You had so many other musicians in the audience with whom you’ve played and recorded – that was very respectful (and exciting for us in the audience) to see so many award-winning and world-renowned players coming out to support your new album. So who were they?  That was a wonderful night with so many people in the business in attendance. Off the top of my head, there was veteran guitarist Bill Bridges who toured with Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Eartha Kitt, Vic Damone, John McDermott & Bowfire, and a kinder gentleman you will not find. Sharlene Wallace a fabulous Classical & Celtic harpist, Johannes Linstead an incredibly popular award-winning guitarist, bass player George Koller from the original The Shuffle Demons who has worked with Holly Cole, Herb Ellis, Art Farmer. Saxophonist John Panchyshyn, flutist Jamie Thompson and jazz singer Tanya Wills. I’d also like to shout out to radio vet Brian Master from Chum FM and photographer Yosh Inouye who shot several iconic album covers for Max Webster, Ian Thomas and the covers of 2112, Hemispheres and A Farewell to Kings from the Canadian power trio Rush, and Siobhan Grennan former producer at MuchMusic currently working at Zoomer Media and 96.3 The New Classical.

The show ended with 2 encores and a massive conga line dancing around the club – did you think you’d see that?  My original idea of having the CD release in a club was that I wanted it to be really fun. I was motioning to the audience to get up and clap along but when it exploded into to this huge conga line and it really made me laugh. From the corner of my eye I saw the chef and wait staff dancing, too. It so beautiful to see people having such a great time.

And further congratulations for your just-announced inclusion of Global Canvas on the Grammy World Music nomination ballot. When will you hear whether the album made it on the full voting ballot?  Global Canvas is on the ballot and voting closes October 15th. We will see who gets nominated for the World Music Grammy on Friday, Nov 10. I would really like to thank my core band of Ray Hickey Jr, Bill Evans, Steve Lucas and Larry Crowe for all their support and dedication in the studio and onstage throughout the decades.

Thanks, Ron, and good luck with this year’s Grammy selection.

I’d like to give my own shout-out to Ron’s wife, Jade (below), who not only manned the ticket and merch. table on the night, but also designs Ron’s album covers and a multitude of other support duties. She always looks so glamorous and is a welcoming presence at his concerts.As the night wound down and after 2 encores, Ron happily joined in with a meet-n-greet, posing for selfies and signing copies of the CD… I managed to snap a couple of celebrity pics of two of my favourite music people congratulating Ron: international guitar guru Johannes Linstead and popular singer Tanya Wills… Based on audience response, Global Canvas is destined to become another hit album for Ron – there was no doubt as each new track played was met with glorious applause and foot stomping! You can stream the album via Spotify, iTunes or your favourite platform, and several videos have been uploaded to YouTube. CDs are available from Ron’s website:  www.ronkorb.com and I encourage you to follow Ron on social media (linked from his website).

So thumbs up to Ron and his amazing group of musicians who rocked the stage at 3030 Dundas…and I’ll leave the final word to Ron’s #1 fan, Susan,  who apparently approves of Global Canvas!!

GRAMMY WINNER RON KORB LAUNCHES LATEST ALBUM “GLOBAL CANVAS” WITH OCT. 4 CONCERT IN TORONTO

Internationally-renowned flutist and composer Ron Korb is again sharing his love of world music with his latest album full of Latin, Middle Eastern, European and Asian  influences, played by outstanding culturally diverse musicians.  The physical CD of Global Canvas drops officially on Friday October 4th with a special concert on at the 3030 Dundas West club (details at end of blog). He will be joined on stage by many of the artists who recorded the 18 tracks with Ron, including Bill Evans (piano/keyboards), Steve Lucas (bass), Xiaoqiu Lin (erhu), Larry Crowe (drums), Victoria Yeh (violin), Rick Shadrach Lazar (Latin and Middle Eastern percussion) Ray Hickey Jr (guitar & koto) plus other guests.

I’m going to let Ron tell you about the project himself…..

You always give us beautiful cover art (photographs) and liner notes on your albums. Your wife, Jade, is a talented photographer and a brilliant design collaborator, creating such beautiful covers for all your albums. It was pointed out to me by one of your dedicated fans that this is the first time you’re shown without a flute in hand. Why the change in style….are you re-branding?  The Global Canvas cover and album design wasn’t a conscious rebranding but the image just felt right. It is the idea of having a blank page from which the inspiration will spring. If you look closely you will even see subtle white brush strokes adding some texture and the white shirt I am wearing just blends into the canvas texture. We did try the opposite approach of having explosive vivid colours representing the energetic world music grooves on the CD but in the end this seemed more true somehow. Now that I think about it, the introspective cover portrait really captures the look of someone working out ideas in their head. 
Ron incudes a track called “Angkor Wat” that was inspired by a trip to Cambodia with Human Rights activist Arn Chorn Pond, to whom Ron was introduced by one of the most famous artists of the past 40+yrs. Watch this video to learn who….

And what’s next once Global Canvas is out in the world…do you have special performances lined up or more film work?  I have been invited to perform in Ricky Kej’s group in Dubai in January. Ricky is a 3 time Grammy winning artist and very well known and popular in his home country of India. There are some other great performing opportunities materializing in 2025. I also play on Ricky’s new album and also Masa’s new single Kashira.  In my life, I never know what new thing is around the corner. Film work or studio always comes up very quickly so we shall see what the New Year will bring.

If you’d like to join Ron at his launch concert in Toronto you can click on his website for full details: www.ronkorb.com
GLOBAL CANVAS album release concert
Friday October 4th at 3030 Dundas West in The Junction (Toronto)
Doors open 7pm – Show starts 8pm
Tickets $35 at door or $30 in advance from Ron’s website or via Eventbrite.ca
To reserve your table, contact club 3030 Dundas W at 3030.table.reservations@gmail.com

Follow Ron on social media: Fcbk + IG @RonKorb

WHAT A WEEK THAT WAS FOR GRAMMY NOMINEE RON KORB

I can’t believe it’s been a whole week since I logged onto the Grammy nominee list, cuppa coffee in one hand, mouse in the other, scrolling down as I held my breath….Category 30, New Age Album…….blah blah blah blah…and RON KORB for ASIA BEAUTY. Yaaaay!!!!12096026_10153033946140448_2532998975567882371_nAfter a very busy year of composing, producing and performing, Toronto-based flautist and composer Ron Korb awoke last Monday morning as a Grammy nominee! Having worked with Ron over the summer to promote the release of Asia Beauty, I am so proud and excited for him at the prospect of walking the red carpet on Grammy weekend (mid-February) rubbing shoulders with the likes of  Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, and fellow Canuck nominees, Drake, The Weeknd and Justin Bieber.logo

As soon as the nominations for all the categories were announced I started working my media contacts here in Toronto – all the TV and radio networks, the dailies, the music bloggers – how would you like a Grammy nominated artist on your show?  Sadly, as is typical these days, we had few takers. Unless you are an international, multi-award winning artist, they just don’t care. But hang on…..that’s exactly what Ron Korb is. Ron has won countless international music awards, has performed in some of the world’s most celebrated concert halls and collaborated with numerous other award-winning artists, has produced over 30 hit albums in various genres (Celtic, Latin, Jazz, native American, African, classical, Japanese….) composes film & tv scores, and he’s also the third most well-known Cdn in China which has the greatest buying power in the universe these days.  Ron has performed for Queen Elizabeth, Princess Takamado of Japan, Princess Bopha Devi of Cambodia, and was featured on the World Youth Day recording for Pope John Paul and the Dalai Lama’s World Festival of Sacred Music in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He has also shared stages with Peter Gabriel, Jane Siberry, Tia Carrere, Liona Boyd, The Yardbirds, Olivia Newton John and Cesaria Evora.

With fellow Cdn artist Liona Boyd

With fellow Cdn artist Liona Boyd

So how come Canadian media doesn’t recognize his accomplishments and want to brag about them to their viewers/listeners/readers? Beats me!  At least the Toronto Star and CTV Headline News acknowledged Ron’s accomplishments…..

TorStar Dec 9Ron and his lovely wife Jade, who took all the photos for Ron’s Asia Beauty album which included a 32pg full-colour booklet, have worked long and hard to promote Canadian music and artistry around the world. Asia Beauty has already won “Best of Show” at the 2015 Global Music Awards as well as awards for Best Instrumental Solo performance (Blue Bamboo) and Best Album Design. The CD also won Best Instrumental Album and Best Instrumental Song (Two Mountains) at the Akademia Music Awards in Los Angeles. Ron has toured countless times around the world and when composing his 2014 Europa album, he performed in venues where classical legends  – Mozart, Beethoven, Bach – once trod the stage. Ron even shared the cover of a recent online edition of Billboard with Keith Richards……keith and ron….so why no love from our own media? This is the sad reality for most Canadian artists. No matter how brilliant, how popular, how well covered by int’l media or how awarded you are by other countries, Canada apparently doesn’t give a rat’s ass about its own artists. So hopefully I will be proven wrong and more editors, columnists, bloggers and news directors will realize the treasure they have under their noses and will step up as we head into Grammy month (Feb/16) and my phone will be ringing off the hook for interviews with the amazing Ron Korb!  Why not see for yourself why he’s such a superstar…. http://ronkorb.com/home_MG_2214

Post script: in his usual humble manner, Ron played a special Christmas concert on Saturday at the St. Paul’s Anglican church in Newmarket – the perfect way to end the hectic and exciting week. Here he is performing to the packed pews!su3IlLSoGq9IKL8EMgK2QECzFI7aLqOftJOwUl5-z3U SnUyYlWoD14w3bUuGCGogFsN8MHisTXgTpDNP7hwUQc