A Night to Remember

I'm no music critic, so I do not have the words to adequately convey the remarkable experience Evelyn and I shared last night when we heard Chris Botti and his band perform with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Music Hall was sold out for the one-night-only performance, and the crowd clapped and cheered and swayed with the rhythm and melodies, or sometimes sat in rapt silence to witness the musical feats performed onstage.
Not only is Botti himself a virtuoso, but he brought with him an ensemble equal to his talent. Billy Childs on the piano is a four-time Grammy winner. Brazilian guitarist Leonardo Amudeo is a star in his own right. Drummer Billy Kilson, described by Norton Wright at the International Review of Music as possibly "the most exciting drummer working today," earned that accolade with his performance in Cincinnati. Violinist Caroline Campbell wowed the audience in soaring duets with Botti and in a tour de force of technical showmanship in her own solo. And then there was vocalist Lisa Fischer, backup singer for The Rolling Stones, who demonstrated a vocal range only exceeded by the enveloping warmth of her sultry voice.
The program was remarkable, not only for its excellence, but also for its range--everything from a Chopin prelude to jammin' jazz. Botti engaged his audience with his low-key hosting of the evening. And he and Fischer performed one whole section from the audience, shaking hands and greeting guests as they meandered  down an aisle.

It's been along time since I've been so blown away by a concert, and attending concerts is one of my favorite hobbies. Indeed, it was a night to remember.

I snapped this picture as the orchestra was
assembling onstage. . . .

. . . and this one as Botti performed
his first number.