Product Description
“When I was young, I was playing high-velocity, energetic punk rock and ska music. And if you watch the way that I play now, it’s kind of like somebody from a punk rock band playing Nile Rodgers or Prince guitar parts.”
– Cory Wong
Cory Wong is a force of nature. A Grammy-nominated guitarist, composer, producer, bandleader, exuberant entertainer, educator and podcast host, he’s best known for the razor-sharp and often wicked-fast grooves he hammers out of his signature blue Stratocaster. Deeply rooted in fun and funk, he’s a practitioner of “chanking,” the percussive and infectious guitar sound that Nile Rodgers helped innovate in the 1970s, but Cory’s style explores complex and emotive jazz territory as well – shaped by his early heroes Pat Metheny, George Benson and John Scofield.
“Starship Syncopation” marks an expansive departure for Cory and his sound. Backed by the Metropole Orkest of the Netherlands (billed as the world’s leading jazz and pop orchestra), the album pairs his trademark spirited grooves with the full-spectrum sound of a 50-piece ensemble. And Cory’s talents as writer, musician and producer come to the fore – propelled by gems like “The Sorcerer,” with its guitar/flute call & repeat and slow-build crescendo; “305’s” nasty-cool strut; the crunchy solo in “King Bozzi;” and the pastoral closer, “Quotidian Fields,” with guest Bruce Hornsby on keys. “To uplift audiences with instrumental music that has no singing or lyrics is a fun challenge,” Cory says. “I’m trying to solve the riddle.”
