Nick Colionne - Just Being Me (2018)

Arguably one of the brightest stars in the Trippin N Rhythm constellation, Nick Colionne, (that most engaging of live performers and without doubt the best dressed man in smooth jazz) is back on the scene with ‘Just Being Me’, which will hit the streets April 27. With ten choice tunes and input from the likes of Chris ‘Big Dog’ Davis and the consistently superb James Lloyd it is a scintillating example of top notch contemporary jazz and already destined to be one of the best albums of the year.

There is a lovely symmetry about ‘Just Being Me’ that is created by the way compositions by Davis and Lloyd (plus one eye catching cover) are skillfully book-ended by two of Nick’s own songs. The first, the magically easy grooving title cut is textbook Colionne and later he closes out the collection with another of his own numbers, ‘Back Down Evergreen’. In doing so he connects back to his 2016 CD ‘The Journey’ that featured the spine tingling ‘East Evergreen Revisited’ a track that originally appeared on Nick’s 1994 debut recording ‘It’s My Turn’.

Elsewhere Nick takes a relaxed yet jazzy approach to Marvin Gaye’s seminal ‘How Sweet It Is’ while that ‘one man hit machine’ Chris ‘Big Dog’ Davis contributes four outstanding numbers. The first is the ultra urgent ‘Be Urself’ that, with Colionne’s wonderful playing and Davis’ imperious production, is a real gem and much the same can be said of the radio ready ‘Nite Train’ that might well get in your head and not go away. When the tempo eases a little the result is the delicious ‘Latin Lover’ for which the title says it all but arguably the best of the Chris Davis songs is the old school inclined ‘Spend The Nite’. Presented predominately as an instrumental then again with extended vocals courtesy of Buff Burnette, this soulfully sultry cut is a real winner.

That said, and in terms of personal favorites, the warmly inviting ‘Still Connected’ is right up there with the best that ‘Just Being Me’ has to offer. Penned by James Lloyd, who predictably comes up big on keys, it is in the good company of the decidedly chilled ‘Is This Love I’m Feeling’ that has a real Pieces Of A Dream vibe running right through it.

Lloyd also writes ‘Go Nico Go’ that proves to be a horn infused foot tapper of the highest order and entirely indicative of the chemistry that pulses between these two fine artists.

All things considered, the overwhelming impression of ‘Just Being Me’ is of an artist who, twenty-five years into a glittering career, just keeps on getting better.

Highly recommended