record collection revisited: Nick Colionne "Just Come On In"

Some thought went into reviewing this record as I have been spinning the CD quite frequently these last few days.  Jazz guitarist Nick Colionne has been active on the jazz scene for some years now and in 2003 released an album "Just Come On In", that is an enjoyable listen.  It is the polished, groovy end of jazz without a doubt.  A crossroads between jazz and R&B.  The grooves are ever present on each of the tunes, especially track one entitled "High Flyin'" which find Colionne, rhythm guitarist Paul Jackson Jr., and Hammond B3 master Ricky Peterson, locking into a groove that ascends and sweeps gently throughout the tune.

On the choruses, horns, and the whole band come in.  Whoever mixed the record, definitely made the B3 present in the first track, and it builds within the groove on this song, cleverly hiding at first, but growing in intensity as the song's momentum picks up.  There is an eight note line Peterson plays that flows into a fluid groove that transitions beautifully with two muted trumpets played by Orbert Davis and Ron Haynes, accenting and echoing Colionne's guitar lines.  Even in the repeat of the B theme, there's no simmering down.  Talk about a locked groove!  The fadeout for this track happens way too soon.  It's a cool jam that could go on for minutes and minutes. 

There are other very pleasant tracks on this CD, but, "High Flyin'" is without doubt, it's centerpiece.  Colionne plays a track in the middle of the record called "From The Wes Side", obviously referencing jazz guitar great Wes Montgomery, but, in Nick's own way with a polished R&B drum and bass groove, and piano played by Mike Logan.  Colionne plays guitar and does all the drum and synth programming, a common practice for these smooth jazz records.  So, it's synthesized, yet syncopated rhythms on this one.

Colionne also plays a great cover of "My Favorite Things", from The Sound of Music, obviously influenced by the John Coltrane version on his 1961 record which was titled after the song.  Other jazz greats have also covered it including Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, guitarists Kenny Burrell and Grant Green, Dave Brubeck, and Sarah Vaughan.  

Those are just a few of the cool tracks on this record.  Here's the whole list.

1. High Flyin'
2. It's Been Too Long
3. Just Come On In
4. The Scuffle
5. From The Wes Side
6. Is It A Dream?
7. Because You Love Me
8. Downtown
9. Did You Know
10. Drumbalaya
11. 2 B D
12. My Favorite Things