Nick Colionne Just Come On In CD

Personnel includes: Nick Colionne (various instruments, programming); Cynthia Hardy (vocals); James Perkins (saxophone); Orbert Davis (trumpet); Ricky Peterson (keyboards); Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar); Richard Patterson (bass); Ernie Adams (drums, percussion).
Producers include: John Biasucci, Craig Bauer, Nick Colionne, Marcus Johnson, Dave Hiltebrand.
Recorded at Hinge, Alloy Sound, Chicago, Illinois; On The Edge, Streamwood, Illinois; Studio M, Waukegan, Illinois; 8121 East, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Personnel: Nick Colionne (guitar, keyboards, programming); Nick Colionne (guitars, bass guitar); Cynthia Hardy, Cynthia Hardy (vocals, background vocals); Toni Perkins, Toni Perkins, Bev Graham, Tony Perkins, Beverly Graham (vocals); Orbert Davis, Ron Haynes (trumpet); Ricky Peterson (organ); Dave Hiltebrand (keyboards, Synclavier, bass guitar); John Blascucci, John Blacussi, John Blasucci (keyboards, programming); Brian Danzy, Brian Danzy (keyboards); Kurt Festge (Synclavier, midi); 'Downtown' Tony Brown, Eric Valentine , Maurice Houston, Richard Patterson (bass guitar); Stanley Cooper (guitar); James Perkins, Steve Zoloto (saxophone); Mike Logan (piano); Marcus Johnson (keyboards, programming); Ernie Adams (drums, percussion); Lenny Castro (percussion); Craig Bauer (programming); Kenny Allen (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Craig Bauer; Jeff Gruber.
Recording information: 8121 East, Silver Spring, MD; Alloy Sound, Chicago, IL; HINGE, Chicago, IL; On The Edge Studio, Streamwood, IL; Studio M, Waukegan, IL.
Photographer: Phil Onofrio.
With the release of the guitarist's Three Keys Music debut, the label invites smooth jazz and funk enthusiasts to an exciting, funky party that's been happening in the Chicago area for many years. Likening his own diverse musical pedigree (gigs with Natalie Cole, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green) to the similar sensibilities of R&B/jazz great and studio legend Paul Jackson, Jr., Nick Colionne thought it would be appropriate to ask Jackson to play rhythm guitar on the whimsical, cool, funk-edged "High Flyin'," whose all-star lineup includes percussionist Lenny Castro, bassist Richard Patterson (from David Sanborn's band), trumpeter Orbert Davis, keyboardist John Blasucci, and the Hammond B-3 organ of Ricky Peterson. Most of the collection's other 12 tracks feature the tight ensembling of Colionne's longtime bandmates Brian Danzy (keyboards), Dave Hiltebrand (bass), and Ernie Adams (drums). The heavy bass and organ-driven, blues-funk blast "2BD" was helmed by Three Keys Music president and jazz keyboardist Marcus Johnson, who also co-wrote the disc's lone vocal tune, the lush, urban, adult contemporary-oriented "Is It a Dream" with singer Cynthia Hardy; the track was produced by Johnson and Henry Allen with Colionne. Colionne's Wes Montgomery influence has been obvious with fans and critics alike, and the guitarist pays more direct homage via the shuffle grooving hip-hop tinged "From the Wes Side." Showing even more depth, he offers a cool, meditation-driven twist on "My Favorite Things," an ode to another of his inspirations, John Coltrane. ~ Jonathan Widran