Watch Cory Wong Debut New Songs In France

Cory Wong wrapped a run through Europe on Tuesday with an appearance at the Jazz In Marciac Festival in Marciac, France. The guitarist and his band unveiled two new songs live that will appear on his upcoming album, The Lucky One, toward the end of the set.

Cory Wong’s band consisted of bassist Yohannes Tona, keyboardist Kevin Gastonguay, drummer Petar Janjic, alto and soprano saxophonist Alex Bone, tenor saxophonist/flutist Kenni Holmen, baritone saxophonist Jake Botts, trumpeter Jay Webb and trombonist Michael Nelson. Cory and company kicked off the set with a trio of songs — “Lunchtime,” “St. Paul” and “Cosmic Sans” — from Wong’s 2019 album Motivational Music for the Syncopated Soul.

Following “Bluebird,” Cory Wong turned to Vulfpeck material with his namesake song ahead “Welcome 2 Minneapolis,” “Smokeshow,” “Let’s Go” and “Home.” It was then time for The Fearless Flyers take on Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets” featuring Kenni Holmen on sax, the aptly named “Kenni and the Jets.” After “Tiki Hut Strut” and “Sidestep,” Wong and the band got into the new material.

First up, “Flamingo,” a silky smooth jazz number with hooky brass lines and tasty licks from Wong and a Hammond organ rave up from Gastonguay. The song concluded with Cory exploring a cooled out coda. “Flamingo” is set to land on Wong’s upcoming album, The Lucky One, due out on August 18.

Cory then delivered the live debut of the latest Lucky One single, “The Grid Generation.” “What did security let you out of your seats finally,” Cory said before “Grid Generation.” “They finally just let ya come up front huh? That’s nice, I like that. It’s nice to actually see you. Thanks for being here.” The band then jumped into the fiery opening of “The Grid Generation” before settling into the song’s driving groove.

“Jax” and “Assassin” would close out the set. Cory Wong and the band returned to encore with a locale-appropriate “Merci” ahead of a rendition of Vulfpeck’s bass featuring “Dean Town,” handled nicely by Tona and sounding slick with horns.

Watch the Jazz In Marciac performance (sans “Lunchtime”) below: