Label: Humbledragon
Website
Flutist Ron Korb released World Café last month. This is his twentieth proper release. That is quite a catalog of recordings for any career. This is my first time hearing his music and I was anticipating some great sounds just by looking at the title. To give you the right looking glass before listening, I would prepare yourself for some excellent world-jazz-fusion.
World encompasses a broad range in relation to anything however for music it means something very special. You know you are in for some ear candy when that word is part of the genre. In this case, you will hear Latin-infused instrumentation led by Ron’s magnificent flute playing.
My musical taste buds were meant for any kind of Latin music, this was not an acquired taste, I have always enjoyed this type of music. I love the rhythms and particularly the percussion that lays down that hotbed of sound. Larry Crowe is the main percussionist throughout with the exception of the superb “Carnival” and “Hilario” where Papiosco adds his congas and timbale to the mix. Bill Evans, the long-time collaborator of Ron, is steady throughout the entire album on the keys. Having the right chemistry between players is always so important for a successful recording session, it becomes very clear that is the case here.
If you are appreciative of the flute you will feel you have struck gold on World Café. I have always appreciated the flute in rock or jazz recordings. One of the factors that I greatly appreciate about this album is that the artist actually travels to the lands that are the subject matter of his music. All the music was written and composed by Ron, everything is the real deal with this man.
The CD comes encased in a quality hardbound book style with each page containing pictures, anecdotes and a list of the contributing musicians. This is not just a listening experience, it is all-encompassing. Through the CD booklet pages and the music, you get to feel the atmosphere of where he is and imagine the colors, sounds and smells wafting through the air. World Café is everything that it says it is and a little bit more for the astute listener. It is without a doubt my pick for best fusion album of 2018 and the bar is set very high to challenge it.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
September 4, 2018
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Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews
Tracks:
01. Bailar Conmigo (Dance with Me)
02. Sans Regret
03. Cordoba
04. Hilario
05. Island Life
06. Argentina
07. Take My Hand
08. Patagonia
09. Sans Regret Reprise
10. New Orleans
11. Carnival
12. Sans Regret Finale
01. Bailar Conmigo (Dance with Me)
02. Sans Regret
03. Cordoba
04. Hilario
05. Island Life
06. Argentina
07. Take My Hand
08. Patagonia
09. Sans Regret Reprise
10. New Orleans
11. Carnival
12. Sans Regret Finale