Earlier this year, guitarist Cory Wong set out on his pursuit of "The Koz Nod," what he described in his July Social Experiment video as, "when Dave Koz gives you the nod." Since Wong's proclamation of this new goal and his unwavering desire to be the "millennial ambassador of smooth jazz," he's been very vocal about his latest endeavor. "During every show I've done this past year, I've talked about how crazy it is that a guy has his own cruise that goes in different parts of the world every year, and it sells out before he even announces who is going to be playing on it," shares Wong. "He didn't know when he was practicing his pentatonic scales in 6th grade that he'd be where he is today...or did he?! I've been trying to connect with Dave Koz to play on his cruise and get out of Minnesota this winter."
In early August, Wong kicked it up a notch and presented his Extreme Smooth Jazz Makeover in his latest effort to grab the attention of the smooth jazz community, and the smooth jazz king himself, Dave Koz. Well, it worked! Wong was able to get Koz's attention and Koz joined Wong in the studio for a refreshed version of "The Optimist" (from Wong's recent record of the same name) about a week later.
In addition, the duo collaborated on a brand new track, "Friends At Sea" – affectionately named after Koz's famed cruise – and on Friday, November 23rd, the aptly named double single will be released digitally as The Koz Nod. To commemorate this epic "win," Wong has pressed The Koz Nod onto 7" records, of which there are only 500 copies available. Fans can purchase those here: woooong.com/koznod
But did Cory Wong make it onto Dave Koz & Friends At Sea after all? This story has a happy ending...Cory Wong is officially invited as a special guest on the upcoming Dave Koz & Friends At Sea, setting sail in March 2019.
Catch Cory Wong on tour, find a full list of upcoming dates below.
CORY WONG
Tour Dates
12/30 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle **
1/10 - Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews *
1/11 - Kansas City, MO - The Record Bar *
1/12 - St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill Duck Room *
1/13 - Nashville, TN - 3rd & Lindsley Bar & Grill *
1/15 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar *
1/17 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues Cleveland *
1/18 - Benton Harbor, MI - The Livery *
1/19 - Ann Arbor, MI - The Blind Pig *
1/20 - Toronto, CAN - Legendary Horseshoe Tavern *
1/22 - Rochester, NY - Flour City Station *
1/24 - Ithaca, NY - The Haunt *
1/25 - Albany, NY - The Hollow *
1/26 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall *
1/27 - South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Showcase *
1/29 - New York, NY - The Bowery Ballroom *
1/31 - Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery *
2/1 - Philadelphia, PA - The Foundry @ The Fillmore Philadelphia *
2/2 - Pittsburgh, PA - The Rex Theater *
2/4 - Columbus, OH - The A&R Music Bar *
2/5 - Bloomington, IN - The Bluebird *
2/7 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall *
2/8 - Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre *
2/9 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Cafe *
2/20 - Limerick, Ireland - Dolans Warehouse
2/21 - Cork, Ireland - Cyprus Avenue
2/22 - Galway, Ireland - Roisin Dubh
2/23 - Dublin, Ireland - The Sugar Club
2/26 - Glasgow, England - Oran Mor
2/27 - Leeds, England - Brudenell Social Club
2/28 - Manchester, England - Gorilla
3/1 - London, England - OMEARA
3/3 - City Of Bristol, England - The Fleece
3/24 - 3/31 - Sydney, AUS - Dave Koz & Friends At Sea
3/31 - 4/7 - Sydney, AUS - Dave Koz & Friends At Sea
** w/ Umphrey's McGee
* w/ Emily Brownin
