Nick Colionne
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Genre(s): Rock
Booking: Click Here

"Jazz was my upbringing, but initially pursuing a career as a sideman meant I had to become well versed in R&B, blues and heavy metal. When I play live, I incorporate all kinds of music and have a lot of fun. All of these styles have contributed to defining my own sound as an artist."
Nick Colionne's charismatic stage presence combined with his guitar virtuosity are evidence he's succeeded; audiences love the excitement and energy he brings to every performance.

With the release of his new CD Just Come On In on the Three Keys Music label, Nick Colionne joins the ranks of today's premiere jazz artists.  His first single "High Flyin'" reached #2 on the R&R Smooth Jazz, #1 on the radio streaming internet airplay charts per RadioWaves.com, and #1 on the World Jazz Top 20 Singles charts compiled by Top-40 Charts.com.  His second single "It's Been Too Long" is quickly climbing the R&R chart, has been selected as one of the top 5 songs for summer by R&R, and has already reached #2 on the World Jazz Top20 Singles chart.

The Chicago born, bred and still residing guitarist began learning guitar at age nine from his stepfather Edward and with jazz a staple in his home, the seeds were planted. He was such a quick study that he quickly began winning talent shows and turned pro at 15, touring all over the world with rock bands and some of the greatest legends of R&B, from The Staples Singers to Curtis Mayfield. Because he was usually the youngest band member, he would sometimes paint a mascara mustache on his upper lip to make himself look older. A classic Colionne story finds him greatly embarrassed when his grandmother, attending one of his concerts, promptly wiped the mustache off with her handkerchief.

Nick Colionne launched his solo career in 1994 with "It's My Turn' which reached #13 on the national charts, and hasn't looked back since .  The recipient of the 1996 Malcolm X College Alumnus of the Year Award for his contributions to music and the community, Colionne has devoted much of his spare time to mentoring children at St. Laurence K-8 School in Elgin, Illinois and recently started a mentoring program at the Florence B. Price Elementary School for the Performing Arts in Chicago. His roles include counseling, teaching music, computer music skills and guitar, and producing talent shows and holiday pageants. In addition, the guitarist is an endorsee for Epiphone Guitars (a division of Gibson USA), Gibson Strings and Accessories and AKG Acoustics.

"The most exciting part of all of this for me is that I'm actually living my dream, getting a chance to play guitar for people in so many places," says Colionne. "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."

With a 2004 performance schedule that includes the Bahamas Jazz Festival, Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz Festival, Jazz on the Vine Festival, JazzTrax Lake Tahoe Jazz Festival, Summerfest Milwaukee, Argosy Alton Belle Casino Music Hall, Blues Alley in Washington, D.C., Fourth of Jazz at Six Flags America Baltimore/ Washington, D.C., Omaha Jazz and Blues Festival, Detroit Smooth Jazz Festival, Catalina JazzTrax Jazz Festival and more, Nick is bringing his special energy and sound to audiences across the country…and there's lots more to come from this talented and charismatic entertainer!!!