By: Cam Elkins
“Something stinks.. do you smell that?… It smells like… it smells like.. peanut butter… do you smell that?!”, Cory asked… “Can I put some jelly on it?!… I SAIDDDD, Can I put some jelly on it?!?!”…”SPREAD ITTTT!”, the crowd screamed.
He then proceeded to lay down the funkiest of rhythms that could really only be described by facial expressions and uninvented words, spreading his multi-colored musical jelly all over the thick and funky airwaves of the A&R Music Bar on Monday, February 4th.
The Vulfpeck guitarist came through into Columbus HOT, putting on a god damn incredible seminar on the power of rhythm and groove to be the conduit for something far greater. Taking us from Kindergarten to PhD classes and back down to pre-K, Mr. Wong basically put on a one-way symposium on the superhuman potential of groove.
Stepping out full of bravado, Cory stood tall and confidently addressed the crowd. Cory let the crowd know that there would be none of this “tough guy stuff” at the A&R Music Bar. He gave the audience permission to allow the layers of ego to slip away, and did so with his signature tinge of cheeky sarcasm. Right from the get, Cory set the clear intention that he’d be guiding us through the funkiest of “Vinyasa flow states”, ultimately revealing that pure golden child that is jumping up and down inside us all.
A true visionary, Cory Wong, takes rhythm to a whole new level. Going far beyond “high quality music”, Cory’s groove is so infectious, it could make a funky stripper out of any librarian. Rhythmically, he is in a league of his own. With his guitar, Cory put the philosophical concepts of contrast and musical pattern on the hotseat, experimenting with speed, soul, softness, and fury, while keeping things so, so smooth. All in all, this was an amazing exhibit on the potential a performer has to expose how laughably amazing music – and life – can be (when done right.)
The thing about Cory Wong’s show – and life – is that it seems extreeeemely simple, however the complexity of it can really be mind-numbing. This was absolutely a master-class display of some of the best guitar playing imaginable.
The steady funk served as a canvas, creating a rich atmosphere of sassy and fiery rhythm, ultimately for Cory to vividly splatter colors of badass blues, smooth jazz, and heart-melting soul ballads. Basically a demi-god of timing itself, Cory ultimately punched a fat hole right through the canvas, with perfect timing, standing up and delivering his thesis statement with the epic-ness of a full-on dragon slayer.
Never before have I seen musical waters so smooth, only to be moved by the damn near legendary splashing of Cory Wong’s excessively awesome guitar leadership. The show was filled with heights so insanely awesome that they were almost laughable, and Cory admirably factored this into his set, taking the time for amazingly hilarious extended banters and comedic routines.
Despite its blatant complexity, Cory makes it seem so simple. Whether he knows it or not, through his music, Cory is a master teacher of life, turning venues into classrooms, and dance moves into laughter. With timing and patterns that were irresistibly hypnotic, Cory would use this scenery to blast off into the grandest of places, making awe unavoidable and undeniable.
With the fire hydrant wide open and euphoria pouring down literally everyone’s faces, it was obvious that this kind of emotional context was where Cory Wong felt right at home. Basically sitting right inside Cory Wong’s proverbeal living room, I had trouble deciding what to do first. Should I stop screaming? Should I pick my jaw up off of the floor? Is it okay to cry? All these questions raced through my mind, until (of course), the funk Jedi telekinetically sensed the overwhelming emotion and broke the tension with even more comedic banter.
Cory Wong is a virtuoso, world-class level performer… second-to-none. He has a new album out called, “The Optimist” (that I honestly can’t stop listening to)… He’s amazing, a gift to the world, and a musical act unlike any other. ..
“A lot of people know me, as, you know, the millennial ambassador of rhythm guitar. I’m here to tell you I’m the millennial ambassador to smooth jazz. I’m drawing the line between smooth jazz, jam, and funk. I’m making it cool again…. It’s not about ‘look at me, look at me now’… It’s about having a good time, having a groove, and having fun,” Cory proclaimed during his guest appearance on the weird music podcast…“I do what I can, I’ve been an ambassador since the day I was born, I’m just trying to live out my calling.. ya know?”