Chris Botti

[Big Daddy]

I've seen him twice in LA. 2009/2010 at the Greek Theatre. I would have loved to see him in 2011 at the Hollywood Bowl but couldn't swing it. He was amazing both times. I prefer if he would play without the singers, but I understand he needs that break. Highly recommend him in concert. Hopefully get to see him this year.
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Monette 6BS1
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[bilboinsa]

I saw Botti at the Myerson in Dallas. Made for a magical Mothers' Day with my Mom. Never pass up a chance to gear an artist that YOU like. Regardless of what others say or think. To those naysayers, listen to the sheer beauty of Deborah's Theme as Botti lands the pp high F. Amazing.

have fun!
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[scatanas]

I gotta check him out one time when he's in town. Everyone that has attended one of his shows says he's great! (And cats that have played with him say he's a beast)
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Talent is learned.


Selmer Concept TT

[michael manthey]

[John Mock]

I had purchased one cd and wasn't thrilled by the particular subject matter chosen.

However, on PBS with some exciting guest vocalists, my wife (a french horn player) and I had to agree that he was amazing. He gets a great sound out of that old horn.

I believe he knows how to deliver what the general public wants to hear in a way they want to hear it.

As such, he might in the long run even attract more folks to play the trumpet than others have, and I can't fault him for doing what I wish I could.

John
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[jvrs]

Chris Botti is actually a decent player. If you can catch him with Juan Luis Guerra it would be an unforgettable concert.

[JamesL]

I saw his show last summer at the DPAC in Durham. He had a great rythm section with Billy Childs on piano (Freddie Hubbard), Billy Killson on drums and the versatile talented Mark Whitfield on guitar, along with the NC symphony on certain numbers. Great show and interaction with the audiance. Worth seeing.

One thing though, his sound seemed proceesesed, like it is run through a reverb machine by the sound man. This was gone once he took his clip-on mic off and played a number acoustic style-then great sound!

Some of the walk on singers and violin player, I could do without. After the show there was a long line of females waiting for photo ops.
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"i am tired of everything except the music" Dexter Gordon

[oldblow]

We used the tickets to the Blue Note that I mentioned earlier in this thread. As I expected, the show was fabulous. The arrangement of "Look of Love" that he did with Lisa Fischer caused me to jump up, shout, clap, and wish I had had turned on the little recorder in my coat pocket. Demonstrating at any performance is something I never do, so you can estimate the musical effect of this performance on me. All the other people on stage play at the same level on their respective instruments, so it was cooking.

He did have the horn miked, but the effect was not noticeable, and I could hear the actual horn sound from about 20 feet away from where our seats were. An interesting moment came later when he told me that when he was about fifteen years old, he had been to a master class with Claude Gordon.
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Felton (Butch) Bohannon

[sounds7]

First time I was exposed to Chris Botti was when he did some producing for the Brecker Brothers (Out of the Loop CD)and was listed in the credits. Then of coarse his own albums started coming along and then the stint with Sting. I actually got replies back from him when I asked him about his horn. His is about the same vintage as mine. I love it when guys are not above talking to fans and musicians who are not of the same caliber. Made me want to go buy even more of his stuff. Chris could do any kind of music he wanted but to me it is clear his best work is when he is in Chet Baker mode.
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[JAGMAN]

Off to see my first Botti concert tonight at the Kennedy Center in DC. Bringing my 7 year old son who just started playing drums. I thought he'd love to see Botti's drummer, Billy Kilson, live...maybe I'll bring my horn in case he pulls me on stage!

[JAGMAN]

Well, I have to be honest, I wasn't blown away. It's obvious Botti is on a marathon performance schedule. The concert didn't have the energy I expected. And, as a horn player, I want to hear the horn...As someone else stated, I know he needs to rest the chops, but the old concert formula of filling the space with a singer/drummer/bass or piano player just isn't why people buy the ticket.

The last concert I attended before this was a Dave Koz Christmas concert...he brought the house down. High energy, upbeat, with a good mix of slow stuff, and he brought SIMILAR talent to fill the rest time...Candy Dulfer on sax and Rick Braun on the trumpet/fluglehorn (Brian Culbertson on keyboards and trombone last year). Jonathan Butler on the guitar and vocals was pleasant bonus, but I happen to be a JB fan, so it worked.

The point is, it's 2012 and you need to keep the crowd constantly engaged...As much as I like piano solos, I didn't pay $70 to hear one...enough on that point...

Also, way too many slow pieces...he spoke in an interview about keeping up the energy in concerts, but I didn't get it. Lastly, I will say that the mic setting was a bit too much on the reverb for me. I like to hear to the raw horn more. And to that, Botti was enamored with the 8 time grammy winning pianist in the band and spent a lot of time facing him while playing some really nice licks instead of the audience...while you get the sound through the speakers, you don't get the raw brass sound that would have happened had he faced the audience a bit more...

Overall I give the performance a B-. My 7 year old enjoyed it and the Kennedy Center is a great place to watch anything...

[jadickson]

Anyone know how much of his stuff is improvised, particularly on the albums?

Unless he is doing a standard like "When I Fall In Love," I haven't heard of most of his songs. So I don't know how much is improvised vs. written out.

Thanks.

[Paul Tynan]

Check this CD out if you have a sec. Chris can hang with anybody.

http://www.discogs.com/Bill-Bruford--Tony-Levin-With-David-Torn--Chris-Botti-Bruford-Levin-Upper-Extremities/master/288471
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Paul Tynan
www.paultynanjazz.com

Edwards Trumpet/Flugel artist and clinician

[HornnOOb]

Botti is great when listening on a bitchen audio system in a dark room with one large Merlot down the hatch and another in progress and a warm fire. I have 3 of his CD's and a DVD. I enjoy his music on occassion when I'm in a mellow mood at home and I do try to emulate a slice of his playing style (at least I can pick-up a few noodles and licks here and there.) Having said that, I'm not sure I would want to travel any significant distance and pay $70.00 a head for a live concert.

I think that he's a solid trumpeter and peformer.
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[SkaDoobzz]

His drummer is so awesome