Chris Botti, trumpeter extraordinaire, and his band of ultra-talented musicians provided one breath taking moment after another during their concert at the Carmel’s Palladium on Saturday. Once a student at the I.U. Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Botti and company performed for a packed house of enthusiastic fans in what can best be described as a joyous homecoming.
Joining him on stage were band members (all stars in their own right) Billy Childs on piano, Billy Kilson on drums, Leonardo Amuedo on guitar, Mike Pope on bass, and Andy Ezin on keyboards. Also featured was violinist Caroline Campbell and vocalist Lisa Fischer.
A native of Portland, Oregon, Botti, a youthful looking 49-year-old, sported his signature blonde spiked hair, looking trim and hip in a fitted black suit with skinny tie. He engaged the audience throughout his two-hour set (without intermission) as he introduced songs and shared anecdotes in a manner that was easygoing and affable. A consummate artist, Botti dazzled the audience with his virtuosity as did his fellow musicians, all of whom were individually exceptional during solos.
Botti, a Grammy nominee and recording artist (he released his first solo album in 1995) known for his versatility and ability to interpret classics as well as fuse jazz and pop music, presented a program that consisted primarily of songs from his numerous albums.
As far as the concert’s highlights, it would be difficult to distinguish one selection over another because each one was remarkably special. There were moments, however, that made for some deep and emotional connections with the audience.
One was Botti’s moving duet with beauteous concert violinist Caroline Campbell during which they played the exquisite Emmanuel.
Another was a haunting performance by Botti and Campbell of Chopin’s mournful Prelude in C Minor. It was made all the more moving due to Botti’s remarks during its introduction, that this interpretation had been commissioned by the Polish government to honor a planeload of important officials killed in a crash.
Later, before introducing Lisa Fischer, Botti encouraged the audience to introduce their children to playing music as a way of giving them confidence and teaching them discipline. He also said that it would earn them the respect of their peers, after which he pointed to Fischer as a prime example.
Statuesque Fischer, an R&B singer, has sung with the likes of Luther Vandross, Tina Turner and The Rolling Stones. Possessing a multi-octave voice, she brought the house down when she joined Botti and the band in The Look of Love.
Making for a delightful surprise, Botti then introduced David Baker, chair of the Jazz Studies Department at I.U. (Botti's teacher and mentor when he was a student), who was in the audience. At that point, he left the stage and went out into the house to shake Baker’s hand, after which Fischer joined him in the aisle where they serenaded him with The Very Thought of You.
It was there that Fischer once again showed off her uncanny ability to hit high notes which extend into a whistle register, as she matched Botti’s trumpet playing note for note and made her voice sound like a brass instrument.
Fischer continued to thrill the audience when she demonstrated the amazing flexibility of her range while singing Italia, written by Botti and David Foster, in the original key and register sung by Andrea Bocelli, who recorded the song with Botti. Enhancing the majestic quality of the piece was a sweeping and dramatic duet performed by Botti and Campbell.
Yet another surprise came at the concert’s conclusion, when Botti called out to the audience to ask if “Piper” was in the crowd. Stating that he had been alerted to her presence by his tour manager who informed him that she was studying music, he asked her to come on stage to join him, Campbell, Fischer and the band as they performed Pucinni’s Nessun dorma.
Piper (whose last name is Murphy, a second-grader at Park Tudor school) was then led to the drum set where she was instructed to strike the cymbals when given a cue. Botti, who asked her father if he had an iPhone, then invited him to join Piper on stage so that he could record his daughter’s moment in the spotlight.
The audience cheered as Piper dutifully and enthusiastically hit the cymbals during a crescendo near the end of the piece. Later, she was given a standing ovation (one of many given to all the artists throughout the concert) when she took her bows hand-in-hand with Botti. It was an image that endeared Botti further to a crowd, impressed by his generosity.
Before performing his encore, Botti told the audience about the honor he enjoyed: performing at a White House State Dinner (Jan. 2011) honoring Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China. In attendance were Presidents Obama, Clinton and Carter, and other distinguished guests, including Barbra Streisand.
As it turned out, this experience proved to be especially ironic for Botti, who explained that he committed to playing the trumpet at age 12. That’s when he first heard Miles Davis’ version of My Funny Valentine which the icon trumpeter performed with fellow legend, Herbie Hancock, on piano.
Accompanying him at the White House event was none other than Mr. Hancock himself. It was an unforgettable full circle moment for Botti and one which he lovingly acknowledged as he played his achingly beautiful version of Miles' composition before saying goodnight to an audience both sated and inspired.
For tickets and information about upcoming performances at the Center for the Performing Arts, call (317) 843-3800 or visit www.thecenterfortheperformingarts.org.
