Concert Review, 5-4-2014
Last night, we were hanging again with Chris Botti – he was in town playing with the Oregon Symphony.
We first saw him in concert a few years ago outdoors near Lake Tahoe. That night was a magical evening; the weather was balmy, the setting sun created pockets of shadows and light in the surrounding pine trees, and the music was crisp, loud, and heroic. We were definitely imprinted that evening with his choice of music. It felt like were riding the updrafts of his trumpet sounds all evening. Often afterwards, whenever we were driving around Lake Tahoe, we would play his CDs to hear his music again alongside the passing pine trees. Maybe we were trying to dislodge any remaining notes that had been snagged in the trees!
Including last night, we have now seen him twice now playing inside a theater with a symphony orchestra.
Like listening to Itzhak Perlman and his violin, or Carlos Santana and his electric guitar, once again it was a thrilling experience to listen to Chris Botti and his trumpet! When Mr. Botti plays if feels like you’re following the rising musical notes and listening to him thirty, forty, maybe fifty feet above where you’re sitting. You can close your eyes and see other members of the audience also floating above themselves. Since Chris Botti is a cross over artist, these events with a symphony orchestra have both the silver haired symphony season ticket holders alongside the jazz enthusiast like myself wanting to hear him play vintage Miles Davis tunes or Sting’s Bossa Nova music. We’re all tethered to our seats but many of us are riding his musical updrafts bumping into each other. All we seem to say to each other is the city of where we first saw him in concert. Of course, we say, “Lake Tahoe.” Others say, “Los Angeles, New York City, or Sarasota, FL.” Last night, halfway through the concert, there were some newbies floating with us saying, “Portland, OR.”
After the concert we queued up to have Chris Botti sign his latest CD. It was worth the wait – Sharon had a moment with him where just briefly they seem to be holding hands together!
Cache of Communiqués 