The Cory Wong Anatomy: The Most Detailed Summary of Cory Wong Anywhere — Full Career, Playing Style, and Japan Tour Band Guide (1) Meeting Vulfpeck and Prince's Band
KINZTO's Dr. Funkshittell here. This is the sixth installment of the "Most Detailed Vulfpeck Summary Anywhere" magazine. Now, let's begin the lecture.
*In preparation for Cory Wong's first visit to Japan, this article was significantly revised and updated on June 19, 2023, to include the latest information.
(👆 I published a band-authorized, completely free guidebook on Vulfpeck)
The guitar for the minimal funk band Vulfpeck is handled by a guitarist named Cory Wong.
The official members of Vulfpeck are the four of them: Jack, Theo, Joe, and Woody, and while Cory Wong is in the position of being Vulfpeck family, Cory Wong, who plays guitar on almost every song and always participates in tours, is an indispensable presence for Vulfpeck.
*For more on why there are only four official members and why other support members do not become official members, click here.👇
In this article, I would like to first touch upon his sound, then follow his career, and introduce how he became the wonderful guitarist he is today.
Cory Wong's Playing Style
If you already know this, feel free to skip this part—but if you don't know much about Cory to begin with, I highly recommend starting here.
Cory Wong is a guitarist from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Currently, he is a globally recognized player who leads his own band, has been confirmed to perform at Fuji Rock 2023, plays guitar for Vulfpeck and The Fearless Flyers, and has performed with the likes of Larry Carlton and Victor Wooten.
Cory Wong is "the best rhythm guitarist of the modern era."
What is a "rhythm guitarist"?
The conventional guitar style is called "lead guitar." Just think of a guitarist in a rock band. In contrast, a guitarist who supports a band by focusing solely on cutting in a funk band is a "rhythm guitarist."
A "lead guitarist" adds flair to a band's performance by playing chordal harmonies, melodies, and solos in designated solo spaces. However, players like Cory, who are "rhythm guitarists", can perform in a way that makes you "hear a memorable melody just from chordal cutting" through precise rhythm and the phenomenal sense of melody hidden within it.
In other words, Cory possesses both the elements of a lead guitarist (melody) and the elements of a rhythm guitarist.
He calls this style "lead rhythm" himself.
The "lead rhythm" style was pioneered by Nile Rodgers of Chic and Al McKay of Earth, Wind & Fire, and was an essential playing style for black music, pushed forward in the late 1970s and 1980s by two guitarists who were active on Michael Jackson's masterpieces "Off The Wall," "Thriller," and "Bad"—David Williams and Paul Jackson Jr. In Japan, Tatsuro Yamashita is also a player in that vein.
My biggest inspiration for guitar is David Williams and his work with Michael Jackson. I saw an interview with him from the early 90s or late 80s, and in it, he says: "One of the things I did was push the rhythm guitar to the front of the band." Seeing that, I thought, "Oh my god! Isn't this the style I wanted to do!" And my other big inspiration is Paul Jackson Jr., who also played on Michael Jackson's songs. I remember having an old DVD when I was a teenager called 'Paul Jackson Jr: The Science Of Rhythm Guitar.' In it, Paul says: "Everyone wants to be a lead player, but no one realizes that if you're a working musician, you spend 90% of your time practicing lead and 10% practicing rhythm—but this is completely flipping the reality of what happens.
Because 95 percent of the playing everyone actually does is rhythm, and 5 percent is lead." I really resonated with this story too. So, from those two, I learned how to make percussive rhythm guitar sound like a hook, making it catchier and more melodic. And I found a way to solve the dilemma that "rhythm guitar cannot be a lead instrument at the same time."
👇 Here is the DVD Cory mentions in the interview above.
Now, let me introduce a recording that very well illustrates the appeal of Cory as a rhythm guitarist. It is the minimal funk of The Fearless Flyers.
Cory is on the far left of the screen, but the sound he is playing never leaves your ears. A melody that is easy to remember, and the repetition of that hook.
However, it is not a simple "theme," but rather he is doing it within the scope of cutting as a rhythm guitar. Even with simple one-chord cutting, he applies detailed ingenuity so that it doesn't get buried in the sound, and he is constantly performing in a way that remains in the ear as a melody.
In this video, he also introduces the secrets of his sound.
What is discussed here is, first, that the soft and precise movement of his right wrist gained from playing acoustic guitar for many years is extremely helpful.
And that it is important to create a "combination of actual notes and shaker-like percussive sounds" by constantly moving his right wrist in large, soft up-and-down motions in 16th notes.
Also, that his groove was significantly sharpened in the drumline of the marching band he was in during high school is mentioned. He is conscious of how each individual rhythm section can be elevated into "one part" by being aware of how multiple phrases stack dynamically, among other things.
Furthermore, in this video, he explains himself that the effect compressor (Wampler Pedals Ego Compressor) is essential to his sound. He plays both with and without the compressor, and you can see that the moment he turns it "on," it changes completely into the usual Cory sound.
Cory's guitar combines post-disco grooves from the late 70s to the 80s and the feeling of rhythm guitar in Michael Jackson's songs, and it can truly be said that the times need his guitar.
Now, let's get into his career.
Cory Wong's Early Career (~2013)
Cory Wong (Cory Wong) was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, and raised in Fridley, Minnesota. (Source: Q&A: Cory Wong Is Here to Stay)
He became interested in music through his father's influence and started piano lessons at age 9, but his interest gradually shifted to rock.
Next, he picked up the bass, then the guitar, and started forming punk bands. It was the 1990s, the heyday of alternative rock. He was deeply influenced by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Primus, Foo Fighters, Weezer, Green Day, Blink-182, and others. By the time he was in high school, his guitar of choice became the Fender Stratocaster, and he has continued to love it as his instrument ever since.
What first got you into music?
My dad. He was listening to Weather Report, Zeppelin, Keith Jarrett all around the house when I was a kid. It's what got me into deep music. And of course, pop. I'm a 90's alt-rock kid - stuff I just love like Weezer, Foo Fighters. I love so much of that music.
Reporter: What got you started in music?
Cory: My dad's influence. When I was a kid, my dad was listening to Weather Report, Zeppelin, and Keith Jarrett all around the house. That's what got me deeply into music. Pop music, too, of course. I'm a 90s alt-rock kid, and I love music like Weezer and Foo Fighters.
Interviewer: Why did you switch from bass to guitar?
Cory: At school, two friends of mine decided to start a band with me. One of them had a drum set at home, and the other had a bass at home. They told me, 'We can't afford a guitar, so let's just start a band with two basses.' But I felt like, 'That's not going to work, is it?' I said, 'Fine, I'll buy a guitar.' I just wanted to be in a band (author's note: punk) that badly. I switched from bass to guitar and have been playing it ever since. And I'm still a 'closet bass player' today. I love playing the bass.
Interviewer: Did playing bass influence your sense of rhythm as a guitarist?
Cory: I bought the transcription book for 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' (Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1991) and learned every song from front to back on both bass and guitar.By doing that, I was able to learn how each part fits together and how it functions.
I really got into guitar when 'One Hot Minute' (Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1995) was released.I learned all the guitar and bass parts for 'One Hot Minute' as well.It was so interesting. Dave Navarro's approach to guitar is completely different from John Frusciante's, but both work perfectly. That helped me understand how different guitarists and their approaches affect the sound within a band.
I also bought the sheet music for Rage Against the Machine's album 'Evil Empire.' I fell in love with Tom Morello's sound. It was like, 'If I buy the sheet music and read it, I can learn to play that song...'
So I got a Strat, and here we are, it just feels like home. When I play a Strat, it just feels like my voice. I love other guitars, but the Strat is just home.
Cory: Ever since I got a Strat, it feels like home to me. When I play a Strat, it feels like my own voice. I love other guitars, but the Strat is special.
At the same time, he was exposed to a lot of Black music, and as a musician from Minneapolis, it was only natural that he was deeply influenced by Prince.
Who are your influences?
They come from the realm of Prince, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Michael Jackson. I grew up in Minneapolis. Prince was everywhere, and being a funk guitar player, that was a good thing. I'm a huge Béla Fleck and the Flecktones fan - still the best concert I've ever seen. And of course, Scofield, Frisell, and Metheny.
Interviewer: Who are your influences?
Cory: Prince, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Michael Jackson. I grew up in Minneapolis. Prince was everywhere, and for a funk guitarist, that was a good thing. Also, I'm a huge fan of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, and that was the best concert I've ever seen. Of course, I'm also a big fan of John Scofield, Bill Frisell, and Pat Metheny.
As mentioned earlier, he was also strongly influenced by guitarists like Paul Jackson Jr. and David Williams. However, the style he was playing in his early 20s was actually modern jazz.
Initially, he majored in science at the University of Minnesota, but to become a musician, he attended McNally Smith College of Music in Minneapolis, where he received instruction from and attended masterclasses by Pat Martino, Christopher Parkening, Andrés Prado, Charlie Banacos, and others.
After graduating, he frequented jazz clubs in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, where he landed several jobs and began his music career.
He also co-founded the local independent label Secret Stash Records. In 2008, he released the album 'Even, Uneven' with the Tuesday house band at the time, the 'Cory Wong Quartet', which was a regular at the famous Minneapolis jazz club 'The Artists' Quarter.' In 2010, he released 'Becoming.' During this period, he was playing pure modern jazz. This was his 'Cory Jazz Era'.
(Reference: https://coryjwong.wordpress.com/ Cory's early self-made website from before he became famous. It's amazing that it still exists. Worth a look for fans. *Note added October 2020: The site is now closed.)
In 2012, he released 'Quartet / Quintet'. Around the same time (2013), he also participated in a jazz project by Peter Kogan (ds).
Also, in 2013, he formed a band called Foreign Motion with friends from his McNally Smith College of Music days. This was also a modern jazz band.
To the "Minneapolis Funk School" (2013)
However, because Cory was taking on various jobs outside of jazz, his name gradually spread to other worlds as well. From here, he began to blossom with the talent as an R&B and funk player that leads to his current work.
First, he was recognized by gospel singer Robert Robinson and accompanied him on his Christmas tour. During this tour, famous singer-songwriter Larry Long appeared as a guest, and after being recognized by Larry, he ended up participating in Larry's live shows. (Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmNEhOKfZ9A)
And the person who was participating in Larry's tour as a drummer was Michael Bland, who was also active in Prince's backing band.
Having made contact with Michael Bland here, Cory was picked up and quickly became close with Prince's band members, such as Sonny T (b). This was in 2013.
Prince's band—that is, the famous NPG (New Power Generation). (👇 Songs featuring Michael Bland and Sonny T)
Cory was then recognized by Michael Bland, Sonny T, and the NPG horn section, the "Hornheads," and began working with them.
This became the first major turning point in his career.
Interviewer: It's unbelievable. You worked with Michael Bland and Sonny Thompson, who were in Prince's famous stage band, the New Power Generation, from the late 80s to the early 90s, as well as the Hornheads, the New Power Generation's horn section. Tell me about your relationship with them, how you met, and the elements they brought to this album.
Cory: It's surreal, right? I couldn't believe I could play with them regularly and have daily contact. I was playing in Minneapolis, gritting my teeth to survive in the scene—but Michael recognized me and let me join Doctor Mambo’s Combo (the band that became the foundation for NPG) for the Bunker’s Jam (an event the band has been playing for over 20 years). Bunker’s Jam was like an R&B night—so to play there, Michael taught me the entire basic R&B soul repertoire from 1963 to 1978. Every Sunday and Monday, I had to learn all those songs. (Omitted) With the Hornheads, I did a few gigs around town, and eventually, I was asked to join the band. Plus, we were really close, so they opened up to me both musically and personally. This is true not just in the music scene but in many aspects of life: once you're in the scene, you're in it for good. So, in the Minneapolis music scene, everyone is mostly close, and as you move up the "food chain," the relationships become tighter. When you're connected to them at a high level musically, things work out personally, and for example, Michael Bland will say, "Hey, I'm making a record right now. Put some guitar on this." I have a wonderful relationship with the Hornheads, just as I do with Michael and Sonny. Regardless of experience or age, once you become part of the family, it's an incredible feeling.
According to an interview in the November 2018 issue of Guitar Magazine, Prince himself would come to watch these Bunker’s Jam events while he was alive, and it is said that he even joined in on the performances.
In the first place, this place was famous in the industry as a session venue for Prince's own musicians, and any musician coming to Minneapolis on tour would flock to Bunker's. It was a session event that welcomed illustrious and famous musicians such as John Mayer, Jimmy Vaughan, Victor Wooten, and Roy Hargrove.
It is said that the Bunker’s song list had over 250 songs, and by desperately memorizing them, Cory earned the trust of Prince's band members. "Memorizing songs" here, of course, means perfect memorization.
At first, he was given work as a sub-guitarist, but when the main guitarist, Billy Franze, suffered a serious shoulder injury, Cory was promoted to main guitarist. (Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmNEhOKfZ9A)
In this way, by being recognized in 2013 by the Minneapolis music scene, especially by the musicians who created Prince's music, "Minneapolis Funk," he entered what could truly be called the “Minneapolis Funk School,” and began to hone his groove.
And, to watch the stage of this "Bunker’s Jam," those men also came along.
Meeting Vulfpeck (2013–)
I was the only one who didn't go to the University of Michigan (laughs). They met at university and started this band, right? So, the reason I joined was that house band gig I mentioned earlier, which Prince also came to watch. Everyone from Vulfpeck came to watch that.
I wanted to talk Vulfpeck and your relationship with the band. Now you weren’t an original member. However you’ve known the guys since pretty much the beginning, and I understand you met the guys when they were on tour playing a gig at Bunker's in Minneapolis?
CW: Yeah man the Bunker’s gig is where we met, and we just hit it off right away. They were digging on the band, and we went out for breakfast the next morning, they were just passing through town, and then that evolved, and I started hanging out with them when I was in LA and vice versa.
Reporter: I'd like to ask about your relationship with Vulfpeck. You aren't an original member, right? I heard you met them while they were on tour at Bunker's in Minneapolis?
Cory: Yeah, we met at Bunker's and hit it off right away. They were interested in the band, and we went out for breakfast the next morning; they were just passing through town. So, we started playing together when I was in LA, or conversely, when they were in Minneapolis.
Cory: (While playing a gig at Bunker's) One night, these guys walked in. They were clearly about my age and looked like young musicians. I looked at them and thought, 'Why don't I know these guys? Why aren't we friends? No, wait, shouldn't we be friends?' And when the set ended,Theo came over from among them—we're both extroverted personalities—and said, 'Hey, that was amazing, what a guy!'I also hit it off with him, saying, 'Oh, you were playing in Caleb Hawley's band six months ago. You're Theo, right!' Caleb is a mutual friend of ours and had suggested to Theo and the others that they go check out Bunker's.Then Theo introduced everyone, saying, 'This is Jack, Joe, and Joey Dosik—.' They said they 'weren't leaving until 2:00 PM the next day,' so we hung out and became friends from there.
One night, Vulfpeck's Jack, Joe, and Theo stopped in Minneapolis during Darren Criss's (Author's note: a singer famous for Glee) tour. They had heard rumors about Bunker's and decided to go there after their gig. From the stage, they looked like musicians of the same age as me.
During the set break, Theo came up to me and said, 'Hey! What a guy, your playing is great!' We had a mutual friend, Caleb Hawley, and we hung out all night, became friends, and went to get breakfast the next morning. And so, the days of traveling back and forth between Minneapolis and LA began. We started doing sessions together, and Jack invited me to join Vulfpeck's album and live shows, absorbing me as part of the band.
Thus, Bunker's in Minneapolis in 2013 became the first meeting between Cory and Vulfpeck. There is a video remaining of them jam sessioning together at the end of that same year.
For a while after this, Cory was active in Foreign Motion, the band with his aforementioned college friends.
Foreign Motion picked up on the change where Cory was deepening his interactions with Prince's backing band musicians and leaning toward funk; while they were modern jazz when formed in 2013, they had become an instrumental funk band by 2015.
This band likely ceased activities in 2015. The following year, from 2016, Cory began launching his own band while also participating fully in Vulfpeck.
👆 The first live show Cory participated in. June 22, 2016.
On the album "The Beautiful Game (2016)" 👆, which Cory first participated in, a song specially titled "Cory Wong" was also created. It is a track that developed the 2013 session I introduced earlier.
Regarding this, there is an interesting story about the release of the song, so please take a look at the separate article if you'd like. 👇
Now, the album "The Beautiful Game," in which Cory participated fully, immediately entered the R&B album charts at number 10, hitting the top sales in Vulfpeck's career.
Vulfpeck suddenly became a globally popular funk band, and Cory, like bassist Joe Dart, came to be recognized as a super-player driving the band. It can be said that this participation in "The Beautiful Game" was the second major turning point in his career.
Cory has continued to participate in all of Vulfpeck's albums and live shows since then. He has established his position as the main guitarist and continues to contribute significantly to Vulfpeck's success.
Vulfpeck held a solo performance at Madison Square Garden in 2019 and sold out the tickets, and there is no doubt that Cory's achievements played a part in that.
The Fearless Flyers (2018–present)
At the same time, Cory also participates in Vulfpeck's side project, The Fearless Flyers.
The members are Joe Dart (bass) from Vulfpeck, Mark Lettieri (guitar) from Snarky Puppy, and drummer Nate Smith (drums).
This band is also an extremely popular funk band, and in 2022, they performed at the world's top jazz festivals, North Sea Jazz and Newport Jazz, with headliner-level billing.
This is the same level of billing as Thundercat, Norah Jones, and others. It shows that the band, and above all Cory himself, is highly regarded globally.
I have featured The Fearless Flyers in detail in another article, so please take a look at that if you are interested.
About the 2023 Japan Tour Band
Cory Wong is scheduled to visit Japan for Fuji Rock 2023.
Originally, Cory's visit to Japan was set for Fuji Rock 2020, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so this will finally be his first visit to Japan.
A guitarist known as a member of VULFPECK, which sold out Madison Square Garden and has now become a leading funk band, and recognized for his creative and tight playing style through The Fearless Flyers and numerous collaborations. A master of cutting who has had a signature Stratocaster model released by Fender and was selected as one of the new three great guitarists by Guitar Magazine alongside Tom Misch and others. This top-tier guitar hero representing the modern era is finally appearing on the Fuji Rock stage!
He will be performing with the band under his own name that he is currently active with. The members are as follows.
Cory Wong - guitar
Kevin Gastonguay - keys
Petar Janjic - drums
Yohannes Tona - bass
Michael Nelson - trombone
Kenni Holmen - sax
Jay Webb - trumpet
Jake Botts - sax
Alex Bone - sax
Among them, Kevin Gastonguay, Petar Janjic, and Yohannes Tona are members of Cory's past band, Foreign Motion, which I have introduced so far. They are his college friends.
And Michael Nelson and Kenni Holmen are musicians who have performed with Prince for many years as the Hornheads.
In other words, this Japan tour band is an ideal lineup for Cory, consisting of long-time friends from college & members of Prince's backing band.
I have written a detailed explanation of this Japan tour band in another article, so please take a look at that as well.
So, next time, we will continue with The Cory Wong Anatomy: The Most Detailed Cory Wong Summary Anywhere as the second installment, where we will focus our explanation on Cory's solo activities.
Top image source: https://twitter.com/guitarmagazine1/status/1057238023618748416?lang=da
◆Author◆
Dr. Funkshitteru
A funk researcher and music writer who came from outer space. To collect "Funkalogy" and repair his spaceship, he performs with the funk band KINZTO.
◇Previous Publications◇
Band-authorized Vulfpeck guide book
"Sustainable Funk Band"
(completely free)
A history book covering about 80 years from before the birth of funk to the present
"History of Funk (Part 1, 2, and 3)"
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