Mellow and cool, Chris Botti sparkles at Jazz Alley

Mellow and cool, Chris Botti sparkles at Jazz Alley

by Albert Rodriguez - SGN A&E Writer CHRIS BOTTI DIMITRIOU'S JAZZ ALLEY FEBRUARY 5 There's more to Chris Botti than meets the eye. Hard to believe, given that he's as handsome as they come. But truth be told, he's got it going on in more than places than one. The Grammy-nominated trumpeter took the stage nearly 20 minutes later than expected at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley on Tuesday evening decked out in a black velvet blazer, charcoal button-down shirt and form-fitting jeans. From where I sat, however, the blazer and shirt could've easily been navy blue. Botti's spiky, blond-tipped hair looked more rock star than jazz instrumentalist, though I won't hold that against him. Opening with the title track of his 2004 release When I Fall in Love, Botti appeared cool, calm, and quite collected. The song featured a remarkable solo by Mark Whitfield, who wailed beautifully on an apple-red guitar almost as large as his torso. Usually witty, Botti declared to the packed house "Welcome to Super Tuesday! I'd just like to announce that I'm running for president and we've won four states!" Then, as the laughter settled he went directly into a spellbinding rendition of Pavarotti's "Caruso" from his newest project Italia. A smooth take on Miles Davis's "Flamenco Sketches" managed to capture everyone's attention, especially from John Benitez's work on bass, despite an ambulance whizzing by outside. Also off Italia, Botti made good on his interpretation of Ennio Morricone's titular film theme "The Mission." I'd be lying if I said it didn't give me a good case of the goosebumps. "A Thousand Kisses" got help from Billy Kilson, blowing everyone away on percussion. Botti joked that he recruited Kilson before going on tour with Sting, who he playfully called a "drum snob." "I'd better have the baddest-ass drummer in the world!" said Botti of Kilson. And to his credit, he found one that's pretty close. Botti, in funny fashion, mentioned how he went home a sore loser after last year's Grammy Awards at the hands of eventual winners Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder. With that, Whitfield started jamming on the R&B legend's "Superstition." Botti has another shot at winning a Grammy on Sunday, up for Best Pop Instrumental Album. The warmest, fuzziest moment of the night was Botti's sweet delivery of the love theme from the Italian gem Cinema Paradiso. It began, though, with another round of chuckles as keyboardist Peter Martin (who sat beside me at the bar before the concert) intro'd with the opening keys of The Godfather. But when the real song got going, Botti demonstrated why he's taken so seriously in the jazz world - he's a spectacular trumpet player that can go from intense and wild to delicate and hushed all in one song. True to Botti style, he politely dismissed the band and finished his set with a solo performance, yet not before a bit more chatter with the audience. This is exactly why his fans came to see him at the Jazz Alley, to be this close to him and have him all to themselves.