The world is paying enough attention to Cory Wong. . .but is Minnesota? Cory Wong is a bona fide festival headliner all around the world with accolades and ticket sales that match or exceed some of the titans in the world of jazz. But perhaps because he hails from Minnesota and is still based here, we don’t always give Wong the recognition he deserves. Whelp, this new release, Starship Syncopation, is as good a reason as any to start giving him the recognition he deserves. The album is a collaboration between him and the famed Metropole Orkest out of the Netherlands. This group is celebrated for its ability to honor pop and jazz compositions with breathtaking orchestrations one might expect to find only in the classical world. This aesthetic lines up perfectly with Cory Wong’s brand of caffeinated, perfected funk. The first tune I was drawn to is the accurately titled “Burnin'”. The groove is electrifying and when the orchestra joins up on the syncopated hits, it delivers a power I haven’t heard before in Wong’s discography. Dig in and enjoy a Minnesota talent making waves all over the world.
Hot New Local Singles highlights new, local songs. Minnesota has a lot of great jazz, funk, soul, and jazz- adjacent music, and Jazz88 is highlighting what is fresh.
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