In the spirit of his classic album releases World Café (2018) and Asia Beauty (2015), the 2024 album by Global music artist, flutist / composer Ron Korb, Global Canvas will be appreciated by music fans far and wide, much like the vast musical spectrum he inhabits. Surpassing his musical identity while focusing on the music universe that unites cultures and blurs borders, the 17-track, 53-minute Global Canvas is the most adventurous and eclectic outing yet by Ron Korb.

If the premise behind World Café and Asia Beauty was to unite the global sonic arts and designs, the 2024 CD release of Global Canvas takes similar genre elements to dizzying heights. By adding in mysterious elements of World Beat, Jazz, neoclassical and more, Korb transcends musical borders by focusing on what unites all great music. It’s almost impossible to pick one or more highlights, as from start to finish there is a parallel connection in play between the tracks.

Also worth noting is the Global Canvas album features a number of two-part musical inventions; a main piece preceded by a short prelude that serves as a sonic invitation to the main theme. A good example is Track 3 and 4, “Desire Prelude” and “Desire”. Featuring Indian percussion master Muthu Kumar on tabla, both tracks present the perfect showcase for Korb’s bass flute and flute, also assisted here by Ray Hickey Jr. on koto and guitar along with Bill Evans on grand piano and master drummer Larry Crowe on percussion.

Global Canvas tracks like “La La Formosa” and “La La Formosa Positude”, “Havana Sun” and “Bass Flute Bossa” bring elements of Latin and Brazilian Bossa Nova to the fore. There are ample influences from Jobim to Ravi Shankar to smooth jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms on the track “Havana Sun”, which also features some very Chick Corea influenced piano sounds by way of Latin Grammy winning Afro-Cuban pianist Hilario Duran.

Quieter moments on Global Canvas include the Chinese music elements on “Kindness”, another meditative foray that features cello by Margaret Maria and sublime erhu of Xiaoqiu Lin. If anyone ever doubted Korb’s devotion to Asian music, this track is a masterful ear-opener.

By the time we reach track 11, “Blue Heron”, you also realize that Ron Korb is also a master of jazz fusion. In the spirit of the great flute masters like Charles Lloyd and Mutter Slater (of the UK prog-rock band Stackridge), “Blue Heron” is an exotic journey featuring Ron’s bamboo flute and bass flute while also featuring a plethora of strings and the great drumming of Larry Crowe.

That same spirit of spry jazzy fusion found on “Blue Heron” also springs to life on “Azure Nights” which features the same lineup of players including the guitar work of Bill Bridges.

Another solo piece here “Angkor Wat” is essentially a solo flute while “Hinamatsuri” is a low-key tribute to Japanese flute music with koto, shamisen and guitar played by Ray Hickey Jr. and shinobue and flute by Ron. “Peace Flute” near the end of the album is another tour-de-force that takes the bass flute well into the musical stratosphere.

Global Canvas closes with another 2-part piece called “Three Kingdoms Prelude” followed by “Three Kingdoms”. With Korb on both bamboo flute, bass flute and flute, “Three Kingdoms” is a perfect mix of Asian sounds and Celtic style. Overall, it’s the perfect way to end a wonderful album.

Whether your tastes run to Chinese and Japanese style music, Celtic, jazz fusion, World Music or all of the above, Global Canvas is the perfect way to soothe your senses while celebrating the greatness of Ron Korb’s infinite musical imagination.