Just Come On In

Album Review

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.