Jazz guitarist and vocalist
Nick Colionne was interviewed in the
February 9, 2009 issue of JET Magazine
regarding the agenda of our new president,
Barack Obama.Colionne was the only jazz
instrumentalist included in the stellar
group composed of:
Aretha Franklin, Minister Louis
Farrakkan, Dorothy Height (chairwoman
emeritus of the National Council of Negro
Women), the Revs. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Al
Sharpton, Russell Simmons, Dick Gregory, soul
singer Frankie Beverly, John Legend, Eddie
Levert, Akon, Nelly, Shaun Robinson of Access
Hollwood, gospel singer Donnie McClurkin,
actor Sheryl Lee Ralph, Patti Austin, Nnenna
Freelon and singer-songwriter Siedah
Garrett.
JET Magazine, a Johnson
Publication, has a weekly circulation of
950,000.
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Colionne was named International Instrumental
Artist of the Year in 2007 by the Canadian
Smooth Jazz Awards and is nominated in this
category again in 2009. He joined the
ranks of today's premier jazz artists with
his Top Ten 2003 Album "JUST COME ON IN"
that
included the mega-hits "High Flyin" and "It's
Been Too Long". His 2006
release "KEEPIN' IT COOL" propelled him to
the top of the charts once again with the Top
Ten hit singles "Always Thinking of You"
(which stayed on the R&R charts for an
incredible 45 weeks), "Keepin' It Cool" and
"If You Ask Me". "KEEPIN' IT COOL" was
also named Top Ten CD of the
Year for 2006 on numerous lists.
His current CD "NO LIMITS" on the
prestigious
KOCH Records label was released in July 2008.
The CD was named "Top 10 in
2008" by Smooth Jazz News. Says
Colionne
of the project:
"NO LIMITS" is my latest
adventure. I wanted to
explore doing some different things with my
music and not limit myself to one genre or
style of playing". Colionne teamed up with
two Grammy-award winning writers for
the CD:
Jim Peterik who wrote "The Eye Of The
Tiger", the theme from the film "Rocky", and
Paul Richmond who wrote "Shining Star" for
the Manhattans. From this collaboration came
three great vocal tracks - the soulful and
romantic "Melting Into You", the bluesy "Hard
Line" and the R&B tinged "Anyway".
As a guitarist and vocalist, Colionne's live
performances defy categorization. His shows
incorporate all the music he loves best and the
influences he's had throughout his career.
You are as likely to hear Nick sing the blues
or some
heartfelt R&B as you are to hear his blazing
jazz licks, or even the hint of metal,
recalling the beginning of his career as a
heavy metal guitarist. From that diverse
musicality comes an incredible live
performance that
showcases the talent, vocal ability and yes,
comedic timing, of this charismatic
entertainer.
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More About Colionne
Coming of age on Chicago's West Side, Colionne
began playing professionally in rock bands at
15, and
has performed with
some of the legendary R&B icons of our time
including Natalie Cole, Al Green, The
Impressions,
Curtis Mayfield and The Staples Singers. The
recipient of the Malcolm X College Alumnus of
the
Year Award, (he earned his degree there in
music),
Colionne has devoted much of his spare time
over the
past twelve years to mentoring children at a
suburban
Chicago K-8 school.
Nick Colionne is also an endorsee for
Epiphone Guitars and Gibson Strings &
Accessories as well as prestigious clothier
Stacy
Adams
and is featured in both of their national
advertising
campaigns.
According to Nick, "The most
exciting part of all of this
for me is that I am actually living my dream,
getting a
chance to perform for people around the
world, The
greatest moments come when I look at their
faces in
the audience when I play, and I realize that
I'm making
them feel what I'm feeling. That's a
fascinating level of
communication".
Nick's website
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For Information on Nick Colionne: On The Edge Productions
Christine Clark
Media Relations Manager
phone:
610-918-3252
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