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By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
When American jazz trumpet player Chris Botti performed in Seoul a few years ago, the warm reception he received from the Korean audience made a strong and lasting impression.
``I would put the Korean audience in the top five of my favorite international audiences I've ever performed for. I am so excited to return to Korea based on the enthusiasm on the last time we performed,'' he told The Korea Times in an e-mail interview.
Botti returns to Seoul on May 22, as a headliner for Romantic Jazz Night at the Seoul Jazz Festival (May 21-24). Fans will be able to listen to Botti perform different selections from his latest album ``Italia'' and older albums.
``More importantly, you're going to see one of the best bands working in any genre of music today so you should expect to have a great time and hear a variety of sounds of jazz, classical music, and rock,'' he promised.
Botti gained critical acclaim and won fans with his smooth jazz music. He is no overnight sensation, having released several solo albums before hitting it big with ``When I Fall in Love" and ``To Love Again."
Growing up in Oregon, Botti said he knew he wanted to become a jazz musician when he was 12 years old and listened to legendary Miles Davis play ``My Funny Valentine" for the first time. Until today, he listens to Davis' music every day.
Aside from Davis, he counts great trumpet players like Freddy Hubbard, Clifford Brown, Chet Baker and Wynton Marsalis, as well as artists like Sting, Peter Gabriel and Joni Mitchell as his major influences.
Throughout the years, he has performed and recorded with artists such as Sting, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Josh Groban, Steven Tyler, Paul Simon and Burt Bacharach.
His latest album, ``Italia" features the title track, which was written by top songwriter/producer David Foster, and sung by Andrea Bocelli. Botti said he wanted to do an album based on the romance of Italy. ``Once the song Italia was finished with Andrea Bocelli and David Foster, all of the other songs flowed naturally in a combination of classical pieces and traditional jazz tunes," he said.
Even with his movie star good looks (he was named one of People magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People in 2004), the 45 year-old artist is all about the music.
``The sound of my trumpet is what sets me apart from other jazz musicians. Ultimately, the musical backdrop changes whether you are playing jazz or classical music, but I have been fortunate enough to have the solitary tone of my instrument connect with a worldwide audience, and it is a great fortune that I am very aware of,'' he said.
When asked if he has any advice for young jazz musicians, Botti said: ``when I meet young people these days, they say `if I don't make it I'll fall back on something else.' I'm pretty sure that's what will happen ― they will fall back on that one thing. In many ways, I jumped off that ledge and just went for it. To be naive was, at times, a very good thing because in the situations that I wasn't doing well, I didn't freak out and quit, and I stuck with it, which turned out to be the best decision in my life. With this, I would tell a young jazz musician to stay focused, practice daily, and stay passionate about your craft,'' he said.
The Seoul Jazz Festival will be held from May 21 to 24 at the Sejong Center, Gwanghwamun. Korean jazz pianist Kim Kwang-min, singer Lena Park and actor-singer Lee Hyun-woo will perform on May 21, while American jazz group The Crusaders and Korean group Prelude will perform May 23. The festival ends on May 24 with British acid jazz group Incognito and French bossa nova Nouvelle Vague.
Tickets range from 40,000 won to 120,000 won. Visit www.seouljazz.co.kr or call Private Curve at (02) 563-0595 for English information.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr | |
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