Nick Colionne Interview Page 4

Smitty:  But this is your best work to date!

NC:  Well, you know what?  It may be cliché-ish, but when I do the next one I want you to say “Here is your best work to date”.

Smitty:  (Laughing).

NC:  Because each one should be progressively better, you know?

Smitty:  Yeah man, and I somehow think it will too because listening to all of your past work, there’s one thing that’s noted distinctively, and that’s the constant and consistent progression of your playing, and that’s a beautiful thing.

NC:  Yeah, you know, I figure you never stop learning, so you have to grow.

Smitty:  That is just wonderful, and I really anticipate some serious, wonderful things happening with this record and your tour this summer.

NC:  Oh, thank you.

Smitty:  Yes.

NC: If the Lord sees fit to have that in His will, then that’s what’s gonna happen.

Smitty:  There you go.

NC:  And I think He sees fit for me to do this.

Smitty:  There you go.  Now, talk about touring.  Now, there is a tour planned, of course, for this year with the record?

NC:  Right, you know, they’re lining up dates now, you know, and I know I’m gonna kick off at the Birchmere in D.C. and I’m going to kick things off with Jason Miles at the Berks Jazz Festival in March. From there on they’re lining up dates, and they know, the more dates they have for me, the happier I am.

Smitty:  Well, I want to say something about your live show and your tour this year.

NC:  Okay.

Smitty:  And I’m speaking to the fans now. “If you want to see a kickin’ great show, don’t miss Nick Colionne live.  It will be worth every penny, it’ll be worth every minute of the time you spend at this show. It is one of the more fantastic live performances you will see.”  End of quote.

NC:  Thank you, Smitty! Like I say, I only know one way to play and that’s all out.

Smitty:  (Laughing) Well, I’ll tell you, Nick, I wish you the best this year with this record. I know you put a lot of time and a lot of energy in it, and it shows in the music, and I certainly wish you the best with this record because it is worth every note, that’s for sure.

NC:  Thank you so much.

Smitty:  Yes.

NC:  Man, I appreciate that. You don’t know how much I really appreciate that.

Smitty:  Well, it comes from the heart, brother. (Laughing)

NC:  Hey, straight from the heart.

Smitty:  Yes. Hopefully we can touch base sort of mid-year and see how things are going with the record and we’ll talk a little bit more about some of your upcoming shows and we’ll keep honing in on that cruise.

NC:  Okay.

Smitty:  So the fans will stay updated on that.

NC:  Like Smokey Robinson says, “Let’s go cruising together.”

Smitty:  Yeah baby!

NC:  Yeah.

Smitty:  And now give me your Web site so everybody can go to the site and see some of the things that you have cookin’ there.

NC:  My website is www.nickcolionne.com and also visit my fan club website, www.kickinwithnick.com.

Smitty:  Yeah, I’m glad you mentioned that because I wanted to talk about your fan club.  Now, this is a newly formed fan club, right?

NC:  Right.

Smitty:  Tell me a little bit about the fan club and who’s doing the fan club and how fans can join.

NC:  Okay, a young lady named Carrie Schmidt is the president of the fan club. She came to me and said, you know, “You need a fan club,” and I was like “I do?”  You know, and so I’m like, “Well, let’s put it together,” and she put it together and it’s been going on now for about maybe three and a half months, and the fan base is really growing. I think that there’s a small membership fee, and you get a free CD and a bunch of other stuff . You get to be on the inside of what’s happening with Nick. I think she has a lot of things planned with what she’s going to do with the fan club this year and I’m excited about that; like meet-and-greets with just the fan club and stuff like that.  It’s gonna be great. It’s going be a great year. If you like Nick Colionne and his music, I would say “Hey, join the fan club,” “because we’re going to have some fun.”

Smitty:  That’s cool.  Well, we’ll certainly keep that in mind. All right Nick, best of everything for you.  Thanks so much for kickin with Smitty and talking about this great new record and the things that you have planned for the coming year of 2006, and let’s kick it in ‘6, man.

NC:  Hey, man, let’s do it.

Smitty:  We’ve been talking with Narada Jazz recording artist Nick Colionne.  He’s about to release his great new CD Feb. 21st, his debut CD on the Narada Jazz label.  It’s called KEEPIN’ IT COOL and I highly recommend this great new project from Nick Colionne.  Nick, thanks again and let’s talk soon, my friend.

NC:  Thank you, Smitty.  We’ll talk soon.

Baldwin “Smitty” Smith