Nick Colionne is one of the hardest working musicians and entertainers out there.  He puts his heart and soul into everything he does, and has a deep connection with his fans everywhere he goes.  Nick took some time out of his busy schedule to talk with SmoothViews about his latest CD, his fan club and his work with the students he loves so much.

SmoothViews (SV):  Thanks for chatting with SmoothViews once again.  It’s been a while since we had you featured here.
Nick Colionne (NC):  Thanks for having me.  I remember the first time we did an interview.

SV:  Let’s jump right in and talk about the new CD, Feel the Heat.  Love it!  You have more vocals on this CD than you have had in the past, and everyone loves hearing your voice.  You can draw people in with your swagger and heartfelt lyrics.  You put yourself out there for everyone.  Is that hard?
NC:  You know, I’m the kind of person that is really a romantic at heart.  I like to sing or write lyrics about things that come from the heart.  It may not be about experiences that I personally had, but an experience that I heard about or a thought that comes to my mind.  I’ll try to feel what a person is feeling in that situation.  I try to put myself in that place, like in the song, “Midnight and You.”  I feel like that’s what a musician wants to say.  I love you, but I’ve got to go out and do this because this is what I do.  And I’m not only doing it for me, but for you, too…for us, so we can have the life we want, but I have to make the sacrifices and be away from you to make that happen.  So, I just try to put myself in the situation and sing from the heart.

SV:  I like how when you are singing, everyone in the crowd feels like you are singing right to them.
NC:  I’m not a professionally trained singer.  I never even thought about singing or being a singer except for background vocals.  So, I don’t go far, like the super highs, or riffs.  It’s more of a dialogue.  Sometimes there were people that told me to push it higher, like on “I Can’t Let Go,” but if I’m telling someone I can’t let go, I don’t want to be yelling it at them!  I’m talking to her, so I want the song to be like that and am glad it comes across to the audience, too.  I want to have that connection with each person.

SV:  You work with James Lloyd on this CD.  Great keyboardist.  How did that come about?
NC:  James and I had never met personally and he had sent me an e-mail a couple of years ago saying he would like to do something with me.  So, I wrote him back saying I would like to do something with him, too.  When I started doing this record, I went to Ohio, and James’ wife was at the show.  She reminded me that James really wanted to do something with me, so I gave her my information and he called me.  He had some ideas for a couple of songs, I played them, loved them, and got on a plane to work on them with him.  We really connected and I am sure on my next one, he’ll have his hands on there somewhere again.

SV:  We all know about your talents on the guitar, but you also take on the organ on many of the tracks. 
NC:  When I create a song, and I start doing the demo of it, I am playing everything on there.  Then I’ll usually take me off and put a real piano player on it!  (laughs) 

SV:  Is this something you started out on and would we ever see that live?
NC:  My manager, and your friend, Carol [Ray], has been getting on me about that because that was something I used to do.  It is something that people could possible see very soon.  Most of the stuff you hear on the record, I did initially…the organ, the clavinet stuff, and I played piano on some of the songs, too.  Now I’m the jack of all trades and the master of none!

 

SV:  It’s also great hearing most of your touring band on this CD.  Does it make it easier to record with the guys that you tour with?
NC:  In a way, but you know how those guys irritate me most of the time!!!  (Laughing)  I see them on the road and then have them in the studio bugging me, too!    But, seriously, it’s really good.  This time I wanted to have that same energy and feel that we have on stage.  Also, when we are putting together the show, it’s coming together a lot faster because everyone is already familiar with the music, and the feel of the songs. 

SV:  One of your songs, “The Connection,” is paying homage to your fan club.  You have one of the most active fan clubs out there.  What is it about your fans that make them so cohesive when others have fallen by the wayside?
NC:  Well, I think this fan club became more of a social club than a fan club.  I might have been the center pole that started it.  It may have revolved around me and what I was doing, but soon everyone came together and became friends.  When we have fan club meetings, it’s a social gathering.  It’s a fun group of people.

SV:  In this economy where it’s harder and harder for artists to get gigs, you seem to be getting booked all the time.  To what do you attribute that?
NC:  I ask myself that same thing sometimes.  I am a firm believer that God is watching out for me.  He didn’t bring me this far to leave me.  But, people know that when they come to see me, I am going to give them everything I’ve got to give.  I think that makes a connection between me and the audience, and I think the promoters see that.  I love people and I can go out there and act like a fool for 90 minutes, but it’s my personality to be a people pleaser.  I try to give the people what they want, and as long as I can give that to the majority, then I’ll continue to be able to work.  It’s hard out here right now and I feel particularly bad for the new people because with radio the way it is now, promoters are not hiring some of the young guns because don’t know who they are with no exposure on radio.  The promoters then just figure they can’t put any butts in the seats.  I think, like anything, this all has to hit bottom before it can come back again.  In the meantime, I just keep praying that I keep working!

SV:  You seem to be willing to pair up with a variety of artists for shows, too.  I know you have your fabulous manager (Carol Ray) and booking agent (Steve Butler), but how do you decide who you collaborate with in concert?  Not everyone always meshes, so how do you decide who to pair up with?
NC:  It’s so true.  It’s a personality thing and a musicality thing.  There have been a lot of times that names have been thrown to me, or a promoter will say “I’d like to see Nick with this person.”  And sometimes I have to say no because it won’t work.  I know what I’m going to do, and I know what most of the people out there are going to do.  I don’t have any kind of dislike for them, in fact I love most people in this business, but I know what will fit with me.  You know me and I want to come with high energy from the second I hit the stage.  So, those I work with need to come out as hard as I do.  Some people, when they are giving their 100 percent, it’s good for what they do, but it’s not good for what I do.  There are certain people that I just look forward to working with because I know what they will bring and that it’ll be good.

SV:  Is there anyone out there that you haven’t worked with yet that you are wishing you could?
NC:  George Benson…he and I haven’t worked together yet!!!  I have worked with just about everybody on the circuit except for some of the new guys, and I am starting to work with some of them.  My management and booking people are always looking at new people that have juice!  I am all about helping whoever I can because getting the gigs are hard.  If I can get them on a gig with me, that’s cool.

SV:  Let’s talk about the cruises.  You are Mr. Cruise Ship.  Mr. Nick at Night!  You’ve been doing the Smooth Jazz Cruises for a few years now and next month is the Capital Jazz Supercruise.  What do you enjoy most about these settings?
NC:  What I really like about the cruises is that it’s so different from festivals.  At the festivals it’s all in and out.  You get a handshake and move on or off the stage.  On the cruise you get to really meet people and see them every day.  You get to sit down and know about them.  And they find out you are a regular person that put’s his pants on one leg at a time like they do.  I am not an artist that avoids people.  I meet everyone I can and since all the artists are together, it’s better for making connections, too. 

SV:  I know you recently held two clinics for high school and college students in Delaware.  Tell us about that.
NC:  That was the greatest thing.  The high school kids are very interesting at that age.  They are paying attention and not paying attention all at the same time.  In high school you sometimes have kids that think they are God’s gift to the instrument.  I had an experience in this one school where this one kid was like a closed fist, and he was a guitar player.  You know how I feel about them.  So, I had to call him out and get him to open up…to open that fist so I could be let in.  I knew he could play well, but I had to let him know that I knew a little something since I’d been playing for like 200 or 300 years!  At the college day, which was so good, you are a bit older, like 19 or 20.  This one kid, a trumpet player, came up to me afterwards, thanked me, and started crying.  He almost made me cry.  He was just so happy I came there.

SV:  Did they know who you were or know your music before then?
NC:  Not really.  They had heard some things about me from the instructors, but when we got to playing, we played a lot of jazz standards.  I showed them different things and how to approach solos.  Some kids who had never taken a solo, did, and realized they can do it.  I pushed them beyond what they thought their limits were.  It was so rewarding.

SV:  You are also scheduled for several shows at the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, and will be awarded “Artist of the Year.”
NC:  Yeah, shocked me!  I got a phone call from the Rehoboth people and I didn’t know if they really meant me!  I don’t need accolades, but it feels good. 

SV:  You always give back to your community and most predominantly through mentoring.  It’s so great that you are so involved with your St. Lawrence kids and bring your talents both as an entertainer and teacher to them.  How are some of your students doing?
NC:  The kids keep sending me e-mails asking when I am getting out there.  I mean, school just started!  They have to settle back in, but no, they keep bugging me to get out there!  I usually get out there in late September because they still have their summer madness going on.  But they are doing great and I can’t wait to get back with them.

SV:  We can’t forget to talk about fishing.  You fish every chance you get until it’s just too darn cold.  How has this season been?
NC:  It’s been a good season…until I fell in the water!  I was having a good day, then my stringer got caught.  I stepped out on the rocks to get it loose and the next thing I knew I was in the water.  I believe a couple of their fish friends pushed me in!  Some of the regular guys I see there all the time, heard me splashing around in the water!  Every time I walked, I got that squishy sound in my shoes.

SV:  What can we expect from you next?
NC:  I am already starting to write songs for my next project.  I haven’t come up with a good title yet, but when I do, that sort of sets the direction for the project.  I think I am going to try some new approaches.  I am looking inside myself and seeing what’s there.  Today was a gloomy day and was the anniversary of my father’s death.  I decided to make it a celebration of my father’s life and do some writing.

SV:  Well, Nick, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to fill us in on everything.  Can’t wait to see you soon!
NC:  Thank you for having me back.  It’s always great to talk with you.