Chris Botti performs, gives IUP taste of jazz

Many people who came to the concert were already familiar with Chris Botti's work. They were quite aware of his caliber of musicianship.

It was mostly a non-student crowd, though a few avid students could be found speckling the audience. Several people came from surrounding areas to attend the performance. Some even followed Botti's concerts from venue to venue.

"I know I've seen him on TV," said Beth Tocci, one of the concert-going women. When asked how long it had been since she first heard of him, she said, "He's been around."

The crowd gave Botti a very warm ovation at his entrance. He and his talented ensemble performed "Ave Maria" in a display of technical prowess. The audience applauded his sustained long note at the end of the piece, and marveled when, after their applause he was still holding the same note.

The ensemble consisted of piano, bass, drums, keyboard, electric guitar and trumpet, with a guest violinist and vocalist. The piano player had lightning-fast hands; the guitarist was all over the stage; and the bass player and drummer laid down grooves that kept the attention of everyone present.

Andy Ezrin, on the electric piano, kept the ambience and mood with ethereal tones from the keyboard.