Nick Colionne - Just Come On In (2003)

Nick Colionne is getting better and better. "It's My Turn", "Arrival" and "The Seduction" were the first albums with which he paved his way to stardom. Now he is back with the brand-new album "Just Come One In". He joined the Three Keys Music label in Washington. We know about the activities of this label and Nick is looking in a splendid future.

His new album "Just Come On In" is attractive and very accessible. Nick has assembled some of the best studio-musicians which are currently available: Paul Jackson Jr. - rhythm guitar, Richard Patterson - bass, Lenny Castro - percussion, John Blasucci - keyboards, Obert Davis and Ron Haynes - trumpet, Ricky Peterson - organ, John Blasucci and Graig Bauer - programming, Mike Logan - piano, Steve Zoloto - saxophone, Ernie Adams - drums, James Perkins - saxophone, Dave Hiltebrand - bass, keyboards, synclavier, Kurt Festge - midi and synclavier programming, Brian Danzy - keyboards, Marcus Johnson - keyboards, Tony Brown - bass, Eric Valentine - bass, Maurice Houston - bass, Beverly Graham - vocals and much more.

The first track High Flyin' is already released as single and especially dedicated for the radio market. Nick's clear guitar is playing the lead motif, taken over by Obert Davis and Ron Haynes on trumpet. Ricky Peterson (from David Sanborn's band) on organ adds a certain vibrating 80's mood.

It's Been Too Long has the same clear structure. A strong melody on a stomping beat. Very impressible. Nick plays single note and chords in rich variations.

The title track Just Come On In has although more character, especially iniated by Steve Zoloto's saxophone. Less drum programming and more sensitive percussion would accelerate the effect. Without any doubt Nick masters his instrument perfectly.

The Scuffle turns up the funky attitude with a nice jammin'. Ernie Adams on drums gives this track a heavy grooving weight.

From The Wes Side, a reminiscence to the great guitarist Wes Montgomery, shows more of Nick's skills. The rhythm bases on the nowadays very popular hip-hop loops.

Is It A Dream is the introducing of Cynthia Hardy, a sympathic singer with an acctractive voice. Cynthia is coming from the gospel music and a talented person. Marcus should give her the chance of a solo career.

I am very thankful that Mike Logan's piano solo on Because You Love Me is long enough to awake my permanent interest.

Percussion loops are sometimes fascinating as to shown up with Downtown. On the other hand the intensive use of loops may limit Nick 's guitar play on the status of a rhythm guitar. Anyway hooky.

On Did You Know Nick solves this problem with some nice solo excursions.

Drumbalaya is a special tune for percussion freaks. Ernie Adam's "Brazilian" rhythm is remarkable.

I don't know what the grammalogue 2BD means, but it's extremely funky. The refrain reminds with its similarity at The Steve Miller Band.

My Favorite Things highlights another aspect of Nick's guitar play. More time for sensitivity. Richard Rodgers composed this song together with lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. The song is a jazz classic, for example played by Dave Brubeck, Grant Green, Woody Herman, Stanley Jordan and especially John Coltrane. I like Nick's contemporary version.

The next cover is coming from the Soul region. Hurry Up This Way Again was performed for example by Regina Bell, Phyllis Hyman, Patrice Rushen. Originally a hit of The Stylistics from their same-named album (1980). "The title cut garnered them one final Top 20 R&B hit," writes Ron Wynn at AMG. A piece of timeless beauty.

Nick's new album is a rich collection of guitar music. An album not only interesting for friends of guitar music. Nick has definetely reached a new level of impressing professionalism. -- smooth-jazz.de