DaytonDailyNews.com

Though he only lived in Italy for two years as a child, jazz trumpeter Chris Botti paid homage to his Italian ancestors and was able to bring a slice of Italy to Kettering on Friday, June 27.

Botti opened the Fraze Pavilion show standing alone spotlighted on stage performing "Ave Maria," a track off his new album, "Italia." In the background was his small band consisting of a pianist, a bassist, a drummer and a guitarist.

When Botti walked to the left of the stage to allow his band to play alone under the lights, one single voice was clearly heard.

"Yeah baby," the female voice cooed from the audience. Botti simply laughed and smiled straight in her direction.

Regular Fraze attendee Ed Farrington, 75, of Dayton found the choice of the opening song surprising.

"I've heard it before when they played it on 'The Early Morning Show,' " he said. "But when he played it live, I loved the crispness."

After "Ave Maria," Botti said hello to Kettering, the place he has claimed to be one of his favorite venues for the past two years.

"It's all coming back to me," Botti said. "A place in the middle of nowhere, called Kettering, Ohio."

Despite ensuing storms, most of the fairly packed crowd remained seated for the nearly two-hour set. Botti's previous show at the Fraze sold out in 2006.

There was also some playful interaction between the musicians onstage. During "Indian Summer," guitarist Mark Whitfield mock battled with drummer Billy Kilson.

Kettering's strong relationship with Botti was apparent to the end. The encore song choice was thrown to the audience. "Cinema," a song that Botti said influenced him to produce an Italian album, closed the show. The concert ended with the same sound and intensity that it opened with.