Cory Wong Announces 'Cory And The Wongnotes' Variety Show, Album [Watch]

Cory Wong has announced his first project of 2021 in the form of a full-on variety show and accompanying album.

Coming off a very busy 2020 which saw the talented funk guitarist release a mind-blowing eight albums (Elevator Music For An Elevated Mood, Live In Amsterdam, Meditations, Trail Songs: Dusk + Trail Songs: Dawn, The Syncopate & Motivate Tour (Set 1) + The Syncopate & Motivate Tour (Set 2), and The Striped Album) along with launching his own podcast series in partnership with Premier Guitar and his How To Musician YouTube tutorial webseries, Wong will keep that tireless work ethic of his rolling into the new year with his forthcoming first season of Cory and The Wongnotes variety show.

Announced on Friday, the first of eight episodes will premiere on YouTube this Thursday, January 14th, and will see Wong joined by a mix of co-stars/musicians in Sonny Thompson (bass/guitar/vox), Kevin Gastonguay (piano), Negah Santos (percussion), Petar Janjic (drums), Eddie Barbash (saxophone), Kenni Holmen (saxophone/flute), Sam Greenfield (saxophone/clarinet), Steve Strand (trumpet), Jon Lampley (trumpet), and Michael Nelson (trombone). According to the announcement, Cory and The Wongnotes was recorded last August in “A tested bubble” environment free from any chance of contracting or spreading COVID-19 while in production.

Additionally, the Cory and the Wongnotes album will arrive on February 5th. The 11-track album will hear Wong backed by an 11-piece big band and singers Cody Fry and Antwaun Stanley. Fry is one of the special guests lined up for Thursday’s YouTube premiere.

The 2:30 minute trailer shared with the announcement sees Wong and the band on a retro-inspired film set inspired by those classic variety performance shows of the 1970s, with the show’s format ranging from sketch comedy, artist interviews, and live performances. Watch the trailer for Cory and The Wongnotes season one below.

Cory and The Wongnotes – Season 1 [Trailer]

[Video: Cory Wong]

Watch Season One, Episode One premiere of Cory and The Wongnotes via the YouTube player below on January 14th starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Cory and The Wongnotes (Episode One) – 1/14/21

[Video: Cory Wong]