Nick has again been nominated as International Instrumental Artist of the Year by the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards! Nick won this prestigious award on his first nomination in 2007. It would be tremendous if he were to win again, but it will take your votes to make that happen. As usual, the nominees selected in this category are all top players with many fans, so watch for the January newsletter which will have the voting link included. Voting is on-line only, and begins January 12.

Nick wishes to thank the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards for this amazing honor!

Gibson Guitars has partnered with a new HD music service, HDTracks, to provide guitar fans an opportunity to download HD tunes (all playable on your current computer or iPod!) by some of today's premiere artists. Along with Nick, you'll find Johnny Winter, Slash, Neal Schon, Billy Burnette, Tinsley Ellis an more - and ALL FREE!

Click on the link below to get your free downloads (limited time only, don't delay) and a 20% off coupon for future purchases.

Nick's current single "No Limits" leaps into the Top Ten this week on the RadioWave.com chart with over 300,000 streams!

This chart measures internet and satellite radio airplay, including Live365, Sirius, XM, AOL, MTV, Rhapsody and more. In 2007 Nick had the #1 single of the year on this chart, which now captures and records more than 4,000,000 titles each week, from more than 4,800 monitored Internet and Satellite broadcasts. It is the world's largest airplay monitoring and information service.

"No Limits" has also reached the Top Ten on SmoothJazz.com, and this week has risen to #13 on both the R&R chart and Mediabase Base Adult Smooth Contemporary chart reported by USA Today.

Congratulations to NICK!

Nick has been featured on AllAboutJazz.com in an article entitled Nick Colionne: Making a Difference for the Future. The article, currently holding the #1 position as "most recommended" was written by a remarkable young jazz saxophonist and jazz journalist, Mikayla Gilbreath, who as a young person herself (15) was impressed with Nick's dedication to mentoring and requested an interview with Nick. They discuss how Nick began mentoring and the influence he has had on young people as a result, as well as the joy he personally experiences in working with young people. It's a fascinating piece of journalism that you will enjoy.

A little about Mikayla:

Mikayla, who Nick met two years ago, won a spot playing sax with the award-winning Deer Valley Performance Jazz Ensemble and soon was promoted to lead alto. In the same year (2007 at age 14!) she wrote her first jazz article, published in Jazz Notes, The Journal of the Jazz Journalists Association (of which she is the youngest member) and in January of 2008 began her column "Mikayla's Totally Jazzed" on AllAboutJazz.com. Mikayla entered Glendale College this August and is studing saxophone and jazz improvisation.

To read Mikayla's interview with Nick click on the AllAboutJazz logo above. To learn more about Ms. Gilbreath click below.

Upcoming dates - always more in the works

2008

* December 14 - Detroit, MI. Royal Oak Theatre, Royal Oak, MI. Alexander Zonjic's Smooth Jazz Christmas Show with Nick, Richard Elliott, Paul Brown and more. Tickets at the box office or visit www.tickets.com.

2009 Preview

* January 16 - Jim Peterik's "World Stage", Milwaukee, WI. Northern Lights Theatre, Potowatomi Casino. Ticket info coming soon.

* January 17 - Jim Peterik's "World Stage", Glen Ellyn, IL. MacIninch Theatre, College of Du Page. Showtime 8 p.m. Early purchase discount for tickets, visit www.cod.edu/ArtsCntr/09_jimpeterik.htm

* - January 24 - Burnsville Performing Arts Center, Burnsville, MN. 126th Street and Pillsbury Avenue. The $20 million performing arts center celebrates its Grand Opening with Nick Colionne, opening act Four80East. Tickets available thru Ticketmaster or at the box office (952-895-4680), 12600 Nicollet Ave South, Burnsville, MN.

* January 31 - February 5, Smooth Music Cruise. Celebrity Cruises' "Century" luxury ship. Sailing from Miami to Key West, Nassau and Coco Cay. Hosted by Norman Brown, Jam Session Host Nick Colionne; with Boney James, Mindi Abair, Larry Carlton, Heather Headley, Acoustic Alchemy, Marion Meadows, Michael Lington, Steve Oliver, Shilts, Greg Adams, Steve Cole, Alan Hewitt and Althea René. To reserve your cabin, contact: 877-529-9729 for booking info and great Pricing Specials.

* February 14 - Valentine's Day show, tba.

* March 21 - Dallas, TX. Bishop Arts Theater, Dallas. details coming soon.

* May - London, England. Info coming soon.

portrait © Bettie Grace Miner, minerworksofart.com

Nick is honored to be the headline performer at the Grand Opening of the $20 million dollar Burnsville Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 24, 2009 in Burnsville, MN, 20 miles south of the Twin Cities. This state of the art facility has been under construction over the last 18 months and will be opening to long-time area favorite Nick's show! Future performances will feature Mindi Abair, Joyce Cooling, East Bay Soul and other artists to be announced.

Opening for Nick will be the excellent group Four80East. The day prior to the concert Nick will conduct a youth clinic at The Garage, Burnsville's award winning youth center which focuses on the arts, mentoring and performance.

Nick is honored to be a part of this momentous occasion.

There is a feature article on the home page focused on Nick at The Jazz Network, a new resource for artists and fans put together by jazz insider Jaijai Jackson, "Woman of Jazz". This site calls itself "A Great Place to Hang" and it sure is! Nick likes it so much he has his own, personal interactive page up.

Check out both the site (www.thejazznetwork.ning.com) and Nick's page! Jaijai has a special treat for your listening pleasure, too - full versions of "No Limits", "Godfather J" and "Melting Into You"!

Nick shares with you the tunes that are tops on his iPod - here are his TOP 10 faves for December!

* Gerald Albright SAX FOR STAX
* Wes Montgomery "WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE"
* Maysa METAMORPHOSIS
* Tim Bowman SWEET SUNDAYS
* Shilts JIGSAW LIFE
* Eric Darius GOING ALL OUT
* Mary J. Blige FAMILY AFFAIR
* John Coltrane IMPRESSIONS
* The Impressions KEEP ON PUSHING
* Wes Montgomery UNIT 7

...and of course NO LIMITS!

Nick has a new webstore. Check it out!

Sail away on the 2009 Smooth Music Cruise as Nick hosts the Jam Sessions!

Nick and Cruise Host Norman Brown hope to see you on board as they and the stellar line-up of artists put on the greatest shows and provide the best entertainment you're likely to see on land OR on sea! For info and some incredible pricing visit the link below....

Thanks to Epiphone Guitars and Haven Entertainment, you have five ways to win an Epiphone Broadway guitar, one of Nick's favorites. The Broadway has a retail value of $1300 and if you win one, it will be autographed to you personally by Nick!

First way to win - be a member of Kickin' With Nick, the Nick Colionne fan club. On January 4, 2009, one lucky Kickin' member will have their name drawn and will be the winner of guitar #1!

Second way to win - be the Kickin' member who signs up the most new members by January 4, 2009 and win guitar #2!

Third way to win - book the 2009 Smooth Music Cruise under Nick's code, NICK01, and be invited to a special, Nick's folks-only, guitar clinic on board the beautiful Celebrity Century, where a winner will be drawn during the clinic...that's guitar #3!

Fourth and Fifth ways to win - book the 2009 Smooth Music Cruise where one guitar will be given out to a lucky audience member during each of Nick's two mainstage performances...that wraps it up with guitars # 4 and 5!

For info on the 2009 Smooth Music Cruise and how to book, visit the link above this article.

Artist Manager: Carol Ray, On The Edge Productions (847) 359-9941 / e-mail: jazz@nickcolionne.com

Promotions Manager: Tom Clark, On The Edge Productions (610) 918-3252 / e-mail: funkyjazznc@gmail.com

Marketing/Media Manager: Christine Clark, On The Edge Productions (610) 291-9278 / e-mail: christine.clark1001@gmail.com.

Booking Agent: Steve Butler, Mighty Music Corp (718) 682-3611 / e-mail: mightymusiccorp@aim.com