The first time I met Nick was on stage at the old Raoul’s Roadside Attraction Blues Club in Portland, Maine. The club is long gone now, but Andy and I were doing a blues show there, and a very young Nicky came up on stage, plugged in, and blazed through a bunch of tunes with us. Wow! He was one of those young guns who ”really had it!”…

When we finished playing, we all laughed and hung out the rest of the night talkin’ guitars, amps, music, tone, and players… That’s how our friendship began. He was such a sweet, authentic old soul and is sorely missed by friends, family, and his fans around the world.

Nicky’s Waltz is a tribute, but more so a musical farewell to our friend. The tune has many of the guitar sounds Nicky loved and those he used masterfully in his musical life.

Those of you who have seen Andy and I play over the years will probably recognize who is playing what on this recording, but for those who might ask, Andy plays an old Gibson Les Paul, and I’m playing a Fender Stratocaster. The harmony and melody is for Nicky, but know that Andy and I are really saying goodbye with every note.

In the context of the tune, we share the melody as a sort of call and response which is the hallmark of this music we love. In the solo sections, Andy and I have the opportunity to say good bye to our friend in our own way through this language of music. I play the first solo and Andy plays the second. On the out section of the tune, Andy and I are having a heartfelt conversation about Nicky and are each paying tribute. I’m panned right in the mix and Andy is on the left. Finally, the solo guitar tag on the end is a departing and final salute, that we singly and collectively loved our friend and still miss him so.

May the wings of angels hold you close, Nicky. Until we meet again.

Contributors are:
Tim Hill, Guitar
Andy Argondizza, Guitar
Mark Napoleon, Piano, B-3
Pete Masterton, Bass
Ronnie Bouffard, Drums
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Dan Merrill of Studio 19