Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti took the stage Oct. 12 at the Raising Cane’s River Center for a leg of his U.S. tour.
The Portland native began playing instruments at the age of 10 and achieved countless accolades since.
After some time at the Indiana University School of Music, Botti moved to New York City, hoping to make a name for himself. He more than established himself, securing collaborations with the likes of Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin and Woody Shaw. During this time, his sound also underwent a transition from acoustic jazz to pop instrumentalism.
With decades of playing and over a dozen successful recordings under his belt, Botti embarked on another tour and decided to visit Baton Rouge. He’s no stranger to the city and has appeared as a Pennington Great Performers series artist with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra.
READ MORE: DID “FOR ALL THE DOGS” BRING BACK OLD DRAKE?
This time, Botti decided to return to his classic roots. As he graced the stage with his trumpet and band members, fusions of smooth jazz, funk and classical music encapsulated the theatre and took the audience along on a musical journey.
Violinist Caroline Campbell played accompanying strings and tours with Botti regularly. A particular highlight of the concert was their joint performance of “My Funny Valentine,” which is the same song that inspired Botti’s commitment to the trumpet when he heard jazz legend Miles David perform it when he was a child.
Neo-soul singer Sy Smith played a cover of Frank Sinatra’s “In the Wee Small Hours of The Morning.” The band’s accompanying piano, saxophone, bass and drums combined with these features to create a unique twist on 20th-century jazz classics.
The crowd erupted with applause in between each song, and Botti even ventured into the audience at one point to play for a young girl who has musical aspirations and had come with her father. Botti kept things interpersonal, making jokes and encouraging the crowd to clap to the rhythm to truly immerse themselves in the music.
This tour also marks a turning point in Botti’s musical career, as he recently signed with Blue Note Records and released his debut album “Vol. 1” on Friday, Oct. 20. Despite being established as a popular instrumentalist, Botti continues to evolve with the times while maintaining the acoustic standard that got him started.
“I wanted to strip away all the orchestral arrangements and focus more on my playing, the playing of my band, and these jazz classics that we always love playing on stage,” Botti said. “It’s paramount to me that there is incredible beauty and elegance to all the performances.”
