The Most Detailed Cory Wong Guide Anywhere // Celebrating His First Japan Tour! A Thorough Explanation of Fuji Rock 2023 Bands

This is Dr. Funkshitteru from KINZTO. This is the 45th installment of the "Most Detailed Vulfpeck Guide Anywhere" magazine. Now, let's begin the lecture.

(👆I have published a band-authorized, completely free guidebook on Vulfpeck)

Now—in this magazine, we have previously explained Cory Wong in great detail.

Building on that, we will now provide a thorough explanation of the bands performing at Fuji Rock—which will finally feature Cory Wong's first visit to Japan—thoroughly explaining the bands visiting Japan.

First, who is Cory Wong?

First, I would like to start by re-introducing Cory Wong. I have written about him in great detail in my past articles—but here is a brief explanation:

1. His funk rhythm guitar playing is world-class

2. He mainly plays funk/fusion

3. He leads Prince's band members

I believe these are his main characteristics.

Regarding 1, "funk rhythm guitar playing," you can imagine the "chaka-chaka" or "wah-wah" sounds a guitar makes in danceable songs.

This is an essential element for dance music—live dance music like funk—and Cory is particularly skilled at it.

(This video is very easy to understand regarding Cory's rhythm guitar skills👇)

Regarding 2, "He mainly plays funk/fusion," I think it is best to listen to this album. It is his latest work and a masterpiece where those elements are played in a well-balanced manner.

Regarding 3, "He leads Prince's band members," I will touch upon that in the latter half of the article.

Cory Wong was born in New York in March 1985 and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He studied under artists like Pat Martino at McNally Smith College of Music in Minneapolis. After studying jazz in college, he began his career as a solo funk guitarist in 2016.

(His first album under his solo name, 2016 👇)

Since 2016, Cory has also been a member of the funk band Vulfpeck, and since 2018, he has been part of the funk band The Fearless Flyers, where he showcases his incredible rhythm guitar work.

He is also close friends with artists such as Tom Misch, Louis Cole, and others.

Furthermore, he is a highly skilled musician recognized by legends, having performed with Larry Carlton, Victor Wooten, Metropole Orkest, and more.

Currently, he is a highly sought-after guitarist whose name is on the lips of many players and music fans alike—that is Cory Wong.

Overview of the Japan Tour Band

Now, let's move on to the band description.

In 2017, Cory formed a band named after himself, "Cory Wong and The Green Screen Band." Since then, while the band name has changed a few times, the core content and members have essentially remained the same. The current band name is "Cory & the Wongnotes." This Japan tour will feature that very band.

The members for the Japan tour are as follows.

A total of 8 members.

In fact, the Cory Wong band is composed of a very large number of people when it's a full band, including a rhythm section, percussion, a 6-piece horn section, and even 2 to 3 guest vocalists.

For this Japan tour, there will be no vocals or percussion, and the horn section will be reduced to 4 members, making it a somewhat slimmer lineup. However, the core members are of course participating, so it is safe to say that it will be enough to hear their sound.

👆 This video features almost the same lineup and members as the band coming to Japan this time. This video is perfect for preparing for the entire live show.

You should prepare for this song

Now, from here on, I would like to introduce some songs that are often played live.

・Dean Town

This is originally a Vulfpeck song. Cory has been involved since its premiere, and because of that connection, it has been played constantly in the Cory band for the past few years. It is mainly played during the encore.

While it is a small-group, simple minimal funk song in Vulfpeck, the Cory version is characterized by a luxurious sound with the addition of wind instruments. It is customary to sing along to the bass line of the main melody, so if you remember this part, you will surely be able to enjoy it even more.

・Home

This is a song that pays homage to ECM smooth jazz and fusion, and it has a chill sound.

It is standard for this to be played in the middle of the live show, and the flow from the beautiful melody to the start of the roaring guitar solo is a masterpiece.

This song was on an album that was nominated for a Grammy Award, and it occupies an important position in Cory's career.

By the way, if this song is not played, it is standard for a song called "Medetations" to be played instead.

・Lunchtime

An original Cory song from 2019. It is a simple funk track, and it is standard for the bass to be featured midway through. During the premiere performance shown 👆, Sonny T, who is also participating in this Japan tour, plays the bass.

This song is not always performed, but it has a high performance rate. In recent live shows, they have intentionally switched to mini-instruments to play it, and during TV appearances, they have even performed it at an abnormally high speed.

In addition to this, songs such as
・Radio Shack (Cory Wong & Vulfpeck)

・Flyers Direct (The Fearless Flyers)

・Assassin (The Fearless Flyers)

are often performed. These are all funk tracks, and while the original versions are by bands Cory is a member of, Cory rearranges them with his own unique arrangements and performs them in his own way.

(Of course, this does not mean he has few original songs. It is simply a fan service to play more songs from the bands he is involved with. Conversely, there are so many original songs that it is difficult to narrow down the "standard tracks," which is why I have not introduced many of them in this article.)

Member Details

Now, of course, you don't need to know anything, but since you're here—

What kind of members make up the Cory Wong band?

Knowing this will surely make the upcoming stage performance even more enjoyable. From here on, I would like to focus on the details of the members.

In conclusion, the Cory band can be broadly divided into three types of musicians. In other words, it looks like the following.

1. Cory's college friends
2. Members of Prince's band
3. Recently joined tour members

Recent bands like Vulfpeck and Ginger Root have notably succeeded by bringing their college friendships directly into their music. And of course, Cory fits this case—but he goes further by adding battle-hardened pros who helped build Prince's music, building a hybrid band of friends and legends.

Let's take a look at each of them in order.

1. Cory's college friends

◆Petar Janjic: Drums

A college friend of Cory's, known for his flashy glasses. After graduating from college, he formed a band with Cory called Foreign Motion. This band broke up around 2015-2016, but its members and musical style were carried over directly into Cory's solo band, leading to the current tour in Japan.

Like Cory, he played jazz at McNally Smith College of Music. He plays a wide range of music from modern jazz to rock and funk, and he supports the band's groove with Cory in perfect sync.

He has a very cheerful personality and is great friends with Cory. He often appears in videos filmed at Cory's home studio.

◆Kevin Gastonguay: Keyboards

A college friend of Cory's who has been wearing a beanie lately. Like Petar Janjic, he was a member of Foreign Motion. Even after the band broke up, he continued to participate in Cory's solo band, which brings us to the present day.

He is also well-versed in various genres, not just jazz but also funk and pop, and always supports Cory's band with precise playing.

By the way, he has shown off a hatless style in the past, so he might be sporting that look at the very hot Fuji Rock.

How much does it support Cory to have friends from university continue to participate with him? Whether on stage or in off-duty videos, his conversations with them are incredibly casual, and one could even say that the balance between work and play is maintained by them.

② Members of Prince's band

Cory's band includes multiple members who were part of Prince's past bands, specifically those who participated in the 90s.

The following members are participating in this Japan tour.

◆Sonny Thompson (Sonny T): Bass

Sonny Thompson. Commonly known as Sonny T. He has been performing with Cory since 2016.

He is arguably the most active member of Prince's former bands today. From 1991 to 1996, he was a member of Prince's legendary backing band, "NPG." He played bass on famous tracks such as "Diamonds And Pearls" (1991) and "Sexy M.F." (1992).

Sonny T boasts an ironclad groove, and when he takes a solo, he even sings along while playing his phrases. 👇

Not only that, but he is also a very humorous person who, as a senior figure in the music industry, greatly energizes the Cory band. Sonny T is someone in whom Cory places his absolute trust, both in terms of performance and character.

◆Michael Nelson (Michael Nelson): Trombone

Michael Nelson is the leader of Prince's horn section, “The Hornheads”. In The Hornheads, he is not only a player but also responsible for Prince's horn arrangements. Since 2017, he has been solely responsible for all horn arrangements for Cory's band.

Of course, he has also participated in recordings for many legendary artists besides Prince.

This video makes his work very easy to understand. He is responsible for all of these arrangements. 👇

Regarding The Hornheads, the information written on their official website is accurate, so I would like to quote it here.

Cory's band has very careful horn arrangements for all of its songs, and that is because he is involved. He is leading a 4-piece horn section to Japan with Cory's band again this time, and attention is focused on his skills.

◆Kenni Holmen (Kenni Holmen): Saxophone

Kenni Holmen's trademark is his black hat. He is also a member of The Hornheads, which I have been introducing, and plays soprano/tenor saxophone and flute. He has also been performing with Cory since 2017.

As mentioned above, he is a person who has performed with many famous artists and Prince.

Like Sonny T, he is a person full of humor, creating a relaxed atmosphere in Cory's band. His playing is always accurate and ever-changing.

He often comes to the front of the stage during live shows to play solos, and his performance is fantastic. I'm sure he will treat us to some skillful solos during this Japan tour as well.

Just being able to see Sonny T., Michael Nelson, and Kenni Holmen—the legendary players who supported Prince for years—in person makes this Cory band tour worth it. Their participation is that significant of an event.

3. Recently joined tour members

The Cory band has been recording and touring under the name "Cory and The Wongnotes" since 2021. The members introduced here are those who joined the band during the 2021–2022 period.

That said, don't underestimate them just because their tenure is short. It has been proven that both are fantastic players.

◆Jay Webb: Trumpet

Jay Webb joined the Cory band in 2021. Originally, the band's trumpet player was Steve Strand of The Hornheads, but recently, Jay has been playing trumpet on many recordings and live shows.

👆 As noted here, he is an extremely talented player. You can see him serving as the horn section leader in the video below as well; he is a pro's pro who has held a very major role for many years.

Jay isn't the type of player to step into the spotlight, but the trumpet is essential for a funk horn section. I'm sure he will accurately support the slim four-piece horn section during this Japan tour.

◆Jake Botts: Saxophone

Jake Botts is a member who joined the Cory band in 2022. He is likely the youngest member of the band and the most recent addition.

In the Cory band, Jake primarily plays the baritone saxophone. He supports the horn section from the bottom, and at times, he steps forward with Kenni to engage in heated musical battles.

He was picked up by the Cory band, and he uses his youth to provide fresh support to the horn section. Performing with the legendary The Hornheads will likely become a significant milestone in his future career.

These seven members are the ones coming to Japan with the Cory band this time. If you have read this far, you will be able to watch the band from a slightly different perspective next time you see them.

For those who want to know more about Cory...

Now, at the end of this article, I would like to conclude by introducing some more detailed information and videos.

As I have repeated, I have written about Cory in great detail in my past articles. 👇

"Cory Wong Anatomy" The Most Detailed Cory Wong Summary — Career, Playing Style, and Recordings (1) Meeting Vulfpeck and the Prince Band

"Cory Wong Anatomy" The Most Detailed Cory Wong — Career, Playing Style, and Guest Appearances (2) Solo Works and Guest Participation Summary

I have researched and written about his upbringing, full career, playing style, and recordings, so please be sure to read these as well.

And these videos and recordings are also recommended.

👆 This is the tour with Victor Wooten that took place recently. The full concert was broadcast, and the archive is still available. It is very worth watching as you can enjoy the performance of the full band.

👆 This is a studio live session recorded at "Paisley Park," the studio that was the home of the late Prince. Naturally, many musicians who actually worked at Paisley Park as members of Prince's band at the time, such as Sonny T, participated, making it one of the most historically valuable albums in Cory's discography. The content is also wonderful and flawless.

Well then, I'll see you in the next article. Thank you so much for reading this far. Nothing would make me happier than if Cory's visit to Japan becomes the best experience for you as well.

◆Author◆
Dr. Funkshitteru

A funk researcher and music writer who came from outer space. To collect "Funkalogy" and repair his spaceship, he is active in the funk band"KINZTO".

◇Published Works◇

The band-authorized Vulfpeck guide book
"Sustainable Funk Band"
(Completely Free)

A history book explaining about 80 years from before the birth of funk to the present
"History of Funk (Vol. 1, 2, 3)"