He’s one of the most prominent jazz-funk players in the world – but Cory Wong says this one thing is more important than guitar playing
Jazz-funk virtuoso Cory Wong has spoken about how his “artistry” took precedence over his guitar playing during the making of his latest studio album, Lost In The Wonder.
In a recent chat with Guitar.com, Wong explains that taking on double duty as both artist and producer on his 12th studio record meant constantly juggling two creative mindsets: his instincts as a guitarist, and his broader vision as the artist steering the album as a whole.
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“A producer’s got several jobs. One of them is getting this thing finished and delivered. One of them is being a good casting director,” Wong explains. “I have a whole Rolodex of musicians that I draw from, and that I wanted to work with for this album.”
The record features 12 guest vocalists, including Taylor Hanson, Cody Fry and Benny Sings, with Wong building each song around the people performing it.
“Another side of the producer is bringing the artist’s vision to life, helping the artist discover more about themselves, and express themselves in new and different ways,” he says. “In this case, because I am the producer and the artist, I have to separate those things.”
It’s a balancing act that ultimately changed how Wong viewed his own role on the record.
“My artistry comes before my guitar playing. My guitar playing is a byproduct and expression of my artistry, so I think of my artistry as being more important,” he says.
Wong also explains that stepping back from the instrument helped him record what he considers some of his strongest guitar work to date.
“As a producer, I’m thinking about the writing and how to treat the production of it, knowing that the artist is a guitar player, knowing that the artist is collaborating with a bunch of people, and that the artist is a band leader and arranger,” Wong says. “Splitting my brain into different pieces. Those things are fun on the producer side because then it shapes a little more easily what is being asked of the guitar.”
That also meant resisting the temptation to fill every track with flashy solos, instead waiting for the moments where the guitar could make the biggest impact.
“It’s not solos, but it’s definitely like, ‘Here’s a moment for the guitar.’ Here’s how to incorporate the guitar as a featured instrument,” says Wong. “The producer brain of mine gave the guitar a lot of those instrumental hooks, and the artist is a guitar player, so let’s do some weird, cool, interesting tone.”
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
