here is an increasing number of radio stations playing a musical style known as "smooth jazz." Replete with programmed electronic drums and unobtrusive synthesizer patches, the genre is more of an instrumental counterpart to R&B artists like Toni Braxton and TLC than a modern version of Sonny Rollins or Charlie Parker. In other words, "smooth jazz" pays more attention to slick grooves ripe for chillin' than it does to improvisational exploration. One of foremost artists in this genre is Chicago-based guitarist Nick Colionne. A former sideman, session player and songwriter for the likes of Natalie Cole, Curtis Mayfiled, the Staple Singers and others, Colionne has been playing professionally since he was 15- only two years after picking up the guitar. Currently, he puts an Epiphone Joe Pass model though its paces on his debut solo disc It's My Turn. Colionne is a talented songwriter and arranger on tracks such as "Back Down Evergreen," "Inka" and "East Evergreen." His songs groove and the arrangements let Colionne's effortless melodies breathe. On the T.J. White tune "Rainy Night In Georgia," Colionne proves a decent singer too, with a voice almost as low as Barry White's. The star of It's My Turn is Collionne's fret work, though. The man plays it clean, always, as he drifts between tumbling bebop lines and bluesy bends. When he throws in a fast lick, every note is percussively articulated, as if he's using a drumstick instead of a pick. Colionne's obvious influence as a player is Wes Montgomery; a badge he wears on his sleeve on the Montgomery-penned "Bumpin' On Sunset," and on "Wes (I Still Remember You)." With both tracks, Colionne's got Wes' signature octave thing down pat. Nick Collione is a good composer and a great player. In terms of personal taste, this reviewer would have much preferred real drums, an upright bass and acoustic piano. By the same token, I could have done without stuff like synthesized rain sounds too. It would be cool to hear him record with a real band on his next album.