Chris Botti

GRAMMY-winning trumpeter CHRIS BOTTI has been one of the most popular instrumentalists for nearly three decades, collaborating with superstars like Sting, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, and more. He topped jazz charts with numerous albums, earned Gold and Platinum records, and performed with symphony orchestras at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Sydney Opera House.

Botti’s Blue Note debut, Vol. 1, marks a fresh start for the trumpeter. After crossing from jazz to pop stardom, this album returns to acoustic jazz and classic standards. “I wanted to strip away all the orchestral arrangements and focus more on my playing, the band’s playing, and these jazz classics,” says Botti. This project reflects his admiration for jazz greats from Miles Davis to Keith Jarrett, drawing inspiration from albums like Kind of Blue and Beyond the Missouri Sky.

While Vol. 1 embraces a traditional sound, it retains Botti’s signature tone and dramatic flair. Produced by David Foster, the album features a stellar band, including Taylor Eigsti, Zach Moses, Julian Pollack, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, and Vinnie Colaiuta, alongside special guests like Gilad Hekselman, Joshua Bell, and John Splithoff. Botti’s emotive trumpet playing shines throughout, whether in his moving rendition of “Danny Boy” or the melancholic “Blue In Green.”

Vol. 1 represents not only a new chapter in Botti’s career but also hints at the possibility of future volumes. “I’m so looking forward to that possibility,” he concludes, signaling an exciting continuation of his artistic journey.