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Chris Botti on Heath Ledger
"Were defiantly a prescription
pill addicted society"


 
     
 

January 29, 2008 - Like most of us Chris Botti was stunned by the death of Heath Ledger. In an exclusive interview with Smooth Jazz Now the super-star trumpeter said, "I didn't not know him and I guess in a way nothing shocks me except for the sadness that I felt." Botti says he saw Ledger in a restaurant 3 months ago, "Obviously he's gone now but at one point does someone go a little too far, were defiantly a prescription pill addicted society and those pills make your senses dull." He told Smooth Jazz Now that it's too early to tell if Ledger took too many pills but the whole thing reminds of another great loss in entertainment, "It's just like when Jeff Buckley died, it's just this unbelievable kind of tragedy, there's not other way around saying it. It's just so sad." Singer/songwriter Buckley died in an accidental drowning accident in 1997, not related to drugs or alcohol. (more below)

 
  
 
   


Botti, who is on a worldwide tour promoting his smash CD "Italia,", told us he has a theory about the industry and actors, "With musician there is an entry level position called playing your instrument that you have to put so much work on to even get into the club and that club just doesn't close if you become successful," as he blows on his trumpet. "Here I am doing this interview but I'm practicing and I've already been practicing for a half hour today." Botti says actors just have too much free time, "They do a movie and a press junket but they're not doing a four-year tour. They have time all over the place and they don't have a craft that they have to do everyday so if they want to go on vacation to Fiji and get loaded then they can do that." Botti says he it's out of the question for him to do the same, "I have to get up every morning and practice my trumpet so if I'm going to have that extra drink then I have to think about I the night before." Interestingly tragedies like Heath Ledger are reality check for all of us, "I'm really grateful that I play and instrument that like a yoga practice,' says Botti, " I have to do it everyday and it keep you locked into a routine." Click here to hear our chat with Botti. Also check the transcript below. - by John Beaudin

 
  
 
Chris Botti - I saw him at a restaurant in L.A fairly recently. Maybe 3 months ago. I did not know him and I guess in a way nothing shocks me except for the sadness that I felt. Here is a guy who I don't know and I don't really know and I really don't know his work that well, I saw him in the "Patriot" years ago but I just feel so bad for him. Obviously he's gone now but at one point does someone go a little too far, were defiantly a prescription pill addicted society and those pills make your senses dull. Did he just take one too many? Did he set out to hurt himself by popping 30 of them, I don't know the answer to that but if it was the former you just kind of go aahh. There's nothing to say I've just kind of speechless about it for the last two days and I'm sure the whole world feels the same way. It's just like when Jeff Buckley died, it's just this unbelievable kind of tragedy, there's not other way around saying it. It's just so sad.

The one thing that actors have that's a real difficult road compared to musicians. With musician there is an entry level position called playing your instrument that you have to put so much work on to even get into the club and that club just doesn't close if you become successful. Here I am doing this interview but (Chris Blows a note on his trumpet) I'm practicing and I've already been practicing for a half hour today. I think part of the reason that actors get into trouble with the regularity that they do is because they have so much free time, they don't tour. They do a movie and a press junket but they're not doing a four-year tour. They have time all over the place and they don't have a craft that they have to do everyday so if they want to go on vacation to Fiji and get loaded then they can do that. I can't do that, I have to get up every morning and practice my trumpet so if I'm going to have that extra drink then I have to think about I the night before. So I'm not there anymore, I can't do that. I've had my run-ins with days when I've woken up and thought I drank a little too much last night but nonetheless I'm really grateful that I play and instrument that like a yoga practice, I have to do everyday and it keep you locked into a routine.
 

Chris Botti : Soloist on New Movie "Bucket List"
November 19, 2007 - Best-selling Smooth Jazz trumpeter Chris Botti will be the featured soloist on the new movie's "Bucket List" score, composed by Marc Shaiman. "Bucket List", which is currently scheduled to be released on December 25 th 2007. It's a film directed by Rob Reiner and starring two great actors, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, playing two terminally ill men, as they escape from a cancer ward and head off on a roadtrip with a wish list of things to do before their death. Botti, who has seen the film, liked the movie and expects it to be a box-office success. Otherwise, everything keeps on rolling for Chris Botti, as his track "Venice" from his latest CD "Italia" is doing well in the R&R Smooth Jazz Chart Top 20 (currently ranked 13). The talented musician is also busy touring. His current tour schedule can be found on his website: www.chrisbotti.com - By Akbar Nour
Another Hit For Botti
Chris Botti - Italia - Columbia Records
October 4, 2007 - Passion. The greatest things evolve around the passion in our lives, whether it be passion for our families, for country, partner or your music nothing else can compare to the individual feelings one has inside ones self of passion. Read the Full Review
Diana Krall and Chris Botti Plan Summer Dates
May 3, 2007 - She had twins on December 6, 2006 and after spending some great bonding time with sons Dexter Henry Lorcan and Frank Harlan James, Diana Krall is ready to do that other thing she's good at - performing. Krall has just announced a 32-date tour with Chris Botti. The dates in support of her latest album "From This Moment On" kick off on June 8th in Oakland, California and have her performing across the country before returning to California to end it all at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Botti will not be with her at every stop of the tour - check the tour dates below. - by Kari Graham
June 8, 9 - Oakland, CA - Yoshi's
June 14, 15, 16, 17 - Las Vegas, NV - Hilton Hotel (w/Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra)
June 19 - Livermore, CA - Wente Vineyard
June 20, 21 - Saratoga, CA - Mountain Winery
June 24 - Santa Rosa, CA - Wells Fargo Center
July 7 - Atlantic City, CA - Borgata Event Center (w/Chris Botti)
July 8 - Newark, NJ - New Jersey Performing Arts Center (w/Chris Botti)
July 9 - Canandaigua, NY - Constellation PAC (w/Chris Botti)
July 10 - Providence, RI - Providence {PAC (w/Chris Botti)
July 12 - Wallingford, CT - Chevrolet Theater (w/Chris Botti)
July 13 - Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent
July 14 - Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavilion
July 16 - Vienna, VA - Wolftrap Filene Center (w/Chris Botti)
July 18 - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park (w/Chris Botti)
July 19 - Nashville, TN - Schermerhorn Symphony Center
July 21 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theater (w/Chris Botti 		August 7 - Bend, OR - Les Schwab Amphitheater (w/Chris Botti)
August 8 - Eugene, OR - Cuthbert Amphitheater (w/Chris Botti)
August 9 - Portland, OR - Keller Auditorium (w/Chris Botti)
August 11, 12 - Woodinville, WA - Chateau St. Michelle
August 14 - Lake Tahoe, NV - Harveys Outdoor Amp. (w/Chris Botti)
August 15 - San Francisco, CA - Davies Symphony Hall
August 17, 18 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl (w/Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra)
August 19 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl (w/Chris Botti)
August 21 - Temecula, CA - Pechanga Casino
August 22 - San Diego, CA - Bayside
August 23 - Phoenix, AZ - The Dodge Theater (w/Chris Botti)
August 27 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheater (w/Chris Botti)
August 29 - St. Louis, MO - Fox Theater (w/Chris Botti)
August 31 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater (w/Chris Botti)
September 2 - Highland Park, IL - Ravinia (w/Chris Botti)
September 22 - Monterey, CA - Monterey Jazz Fest

Chris Botti Gives Chill Hosting Duties to Mindi Abair
April 24, 2007 - It seems we can't get enough of Mindi Abair and there's more coming. The saxophonist has been slated as the new host of Chris Botti's Chill program. The popular show syndicated by Rendezvous Entertainment and Smooth Jazz Consultants Broadcast Architecture has been hosted by Botti since September 2004. Chill with Mindi Abair will debut at the beginning of May 2007 and feature the same mix of music including artists like Praful and Moby. - by Kari Graham
Chris Botti Gives Italy a Chance
April 12, 2007 - Where does the hottest trumpet player on the planet go musically if he's already done New Age, Smooth Jazz, Standards, Duets and Soundtracks? For Chris Botti the answer was simple - Italy. The star trumpeter is recording his Italian flavoured new album in London with Orchestra in tow. Botti plans to cover "The Mission" theme from famous Italian film composer Ennio Morricone and "Caruso" by Lucio Dalla. Also on the album a rendition of Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up." The album will be released on Sony in the fall but if you can't wait that long the record company plans to release a Botti live concert set on Blu-ray. Chris Botti is taking a break from recording this weekend as he joins the Rippingtons, Chick Corea and David Benoit at the Palm Beach Jazz Festival.
- by John Beaudin
Smooth Jazz News
June 21, 2005 - Lee Ritenour's latest "Over Time", an all star career retrospective on Peak Records, is now in stores. The disc features great guest appearances by Chris Botti, Eric Marienthal, Kenya Hathaway, and Patrice Rushen. Ritenour will tour Europe in the coming months. - by Cheryl Philips
Chris Botti Continues With Standards
May 31, 2005 - Following closely on the heels of his hit album "When I Fall in Love", Chris Botti is set to begin work on another collection of jazz and pop standards. Botti is said to have been a little surprised by the level of success achieved by the album he had such a great time recording last year with the London Symphony Orchestra. He will start recording the new outing in the same vein in June, with hopes for an October release. He is looking forward to work on the next installment, which will be recorded in London and Los Angeles. In the meantime, "When I Fall in Love" was re-released on May 31st as a dual disc combination CD-DVD. The DVD side includes the full album, in addition to a documentary about the making of the album and a live video of Botti's performance of "Someone to Watch Over Me" at the 2004 Nobel Prize Award ceremony in Oslo, Norway in 2004. - By Cheryl Philips

Smooth Jazz Goes Cruising Crazy
February 21, 2005 - Seems like everyone is cruising these days. Smooth Jazz Cruise pioneer Warren Hill has just completed his second sell out full charter while, almost at the same time, Bob James was sailing on a musical journey out of San Diego. Later in the year Rick Braun is leading a top-notch line up on a seven-day trip out of Galveston and Warren Hill's 2006 event is already proving to be a big early seller. Sandwiched among all this is the "Dave Koz & Friends At Sea" cruise that sails from San Diego on November 5 and is being managed by the same organization that made Hills last event such a success. Calling at destinations that include Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas and Peurto Vallarta, Koz has assembled a line up every bit as good as one would expect from this master of live Smooth Jazz. Artists already confirmed, and who performed on the Hill cruise, are Wayman Tisdale, Kirk Whalum, Jeff Golub, and Jonathan Butler. Joining them will be Marc Antoine, Patti Austin, David Benoit, Chris Botti, George Duke, Jeffrey Osborne and Praful. It's a line up that promises to produce seven days of high quality Smooth Jazz. - By Denis Poole
Chris Botti Set To Tour With Josh Groban
December 16, 2004 - First Mindi Abair did it now Chris Botti will be joining Josh Groban on tour. Botti who's riding on the success of one of his biggest albums the symphony laden 'When I Fall In Love,' will hit the road with Groban in the New Year. The tour kicks off in Florida on January 25 and concludes in Vegas on March 19. Botti recently toured as the opening act on Sting's recent "Sacred Love" tour, he was also a member in Sting's touring band.
Chris Botti & Josh Groban Tour Dates
Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - Estero, FL - Germain Arena
Saturday, January 29, 2005 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Office Depot Center
Monday, January 31, 2005 - Orlando, FL - TD Waterhouse Centre
Tuesday, February 01, 2005 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
Friday, February 04, 2005 - Raleigh, NC - RBC Center
Saturday, February 05, 2005 - Norfolk, VA - Scope Arena
Monday, February 07, 2005 - Wilkes Barre, PA - Wachovia Arena
Tuesday, February 08, 2005 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun
Thursday, February 10, 2005 - Manchester, NH - Verizon Wireless Arena
Friday, February 11, 2005 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
Monday, February 14, 2005 - Cleveland, OH - Gund Arena
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - Hershey, PA - Giant Center @ Hershey Park
Friday, February 18, 2005 - Moline, IL - The Mark of the Quad Cities
Saturday, February 19, 2005 - Milwaukee, WI - US Cellular Arena

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 - Green Bay, WI - Resch Center
Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
Friday, February 25, 2005 - Sioux City, IA - Tyson Event Center
Saturday, February 26, 2005 - Rockford, IL - Rockford Metrocentre
Tuesday, March 01, 2005 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena
Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - Peoria, IL - Peoria Civic Center Arena
Friday, March 04, 2005 - Oxford, OH - Millett Hall
Saturday, March 05, 2005 - Louisville, KY - Freedom Hall
Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Allen County War Memorial
Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - Evansville, IN - Roberts Stadium
Friday, March 11, 2005 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
Sunday, March 13, 2005 - Oklahoma City, OK - Ford Center
Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - San Antonio, TX - SBC Center
Thursday, March 17, 2005 - Phoenix, AZ - America West Arena
Saturday, March 19, 2005 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay


Chris Botti Proves His Point & Jumps 109 Spots On Billboard
December 4, 2004 - Chris Botti told Smooth Jazz Now, "I don't chase the charts." The popular trumpeter believes in producing music that he himself listens to, music that makes him feel alive and that's exactly what he did on his new album, "When I Fall in Love. The CD, his first with a traditional Jazz feel seems to have struck a chord with fans. This week, it jumped 109 spots on the Billboard chart - from 146 to 37 on the Top 200. That has to be good news for the Smooth Jazz genre even though Botti has strayed a bit on this one he's still considered one of the top poster boys for the format. Botti has toured with Sting numerous times, was the Musical Director and co-host on the now defunct Caroline Rhea show and recently made appearances on NBC's Today and on Oprah Winfrey.
Chris Botti Making Headlines With Katie Couric
November 10, 2004 - The stars are in alignment for Chris Botti. His new album "When I Fall In Love" visited the top spot on Billboard magazines Jazz chart, his last CD "A Thousand Kisses Deep" is still on the Smooth Jazz charts but most of the buzz is surrounding what seems to be his relationship with NBC's "Today" host, Katie Couric. She lost her husband Jay Monahan to colon cancer five years ago; she recently broke off a relationship with TV mogul Tom Werner. Though many papers headline the fact that Couric is going after her much younger Jazz hunk there is only 5 years between them. He's 42 and she's 47. Botti was named one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People this year.
Chris Botti Has Another Hit
October 7, 2004 - Chris Botti's new album "When I Fall In Love' is moving fast out of the gate. The CD on Sony music was No. 1 most-downloaded on iTunes Jazz on the day it was released last week. It's also the No. 12 best-selling release in any genre on Amazon.com. "When I Fall In Love" was recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra at George Martin's studio in England. Botti will play "Someone To Watch Over Me" with full orchestra at the Noble Prize Ceremonies in Oslo, Norway which will be telecast worldwide Dec. 10 and hosted by Tom Cruise and Oprah Winfrey. Interestingly, the trumpeter is still charting his last album "A Thousand Kisses Deep" with the song "Back Into My Heart" on the R&R Smooth Jazz charts. It's currently No. 10.
Concert Review - Chris Botti - Glenora Wine Cellars, Upstate New York - - August 22/04
August 30, 2004 by Francoise Morissette, roving reporter for the Wave 94.7. Every summer, the winery puts on two Smooth Jazz events which have proven very popular over the years. Set in the beautiful Finger Lakes district, Glenora offers stunning vistas, a comfortable atmosphere and seamless logistics: they even allow you to offload lawn chairs, picnic baskets and coolers before parking the car. Read more.
Chris Botti's 'When I Fall In Love' Slated for September
July 21, 2004 - Chris Botti is adding a lot of strings to his next venture, George Martin style. "The studio that we recorded in is owned by Martin," says Botti who recently talked with John Nene of Smooth Jazz 100.3 in Minneapolis. "It's perhaps the most beautiful recording facility I've ever been in. It's an old giant church." The trumpeter says he was honored to use the former Beatles producer's studio including the help of the London Symphony Orchestra. "Once in a while an artist has the opportunity to do an album like this." Botti says, "It's a lush beautiful interpretation of songs that everyone knows like "Someone To Watch Over Me…Chet Baker has done it with strings, Miles Davis did it with Gil Evans." The album has a tentative release date of September 21 and has a working title of 'When I fall in Love.' Nene who hosts the drive time show at Smooth Jazz 100.3 also asked Botti about being named one of People magazine's '50 Most Beautiful People,' "You know it's wonderful on a couple of different levels, first I've never been that close to Charlize Theron before" says Botti with a laugh, "I think it's a really cool thing that People magazine is acknowledging musicians and specifically Jazz musicians and not just actors" but his family and friends haven't let him off the hook, "It has been a stream of constant harassment!" Read our interview with Chris Botti. Listen to John Nene's interview with Botti. Read our interview with John Nene.
Jeff Lorber Resurrects His Shades Of Soul With Chris Botti & Art Porter
July 16, 2004 - Jeff Lorber (pictured right) knows that timing is everything! The popular Smooth Jazz keyboardist says he's finally set to release the 'Shades of Soul' album, a group effort also featuring guitarist Marion McClain and Nathaniel Phillips who both played with the Dazz Band. The project was actually started ten years ago but Lorber says up until now the timing just wasn't right. The groups first effort will also feature the late Art Porter (center) who drowned in 1996 - Porter and Lorber were very good friends. Chris Botti (left) was added to the mix in 2000 and his trumpet is featured on many of the funk/Smooth Jazz tracks. The first single 'Gazpacho' was sent to radio on July 12. The album will be released on Narada Jazz on August 24th. Read our interview with Jeff Lorber.
Chris Botti Loved His Touring Time With Joni Mitchell
May 13, 2004 - Chris Botti sure has a good looking resume! He recently wrapped up a tour with Sting, and he's spent some time on the road with Paul Simon, Al Jarreau and a host of Smooth Jazzers including Dave Koz and Bob James. Botti told Smooth Jazz Now that he's a huge Joni Mitchell fan and had a chance to tour with the music legend, "She's very, very verbal" says Botti, "We'd be driving across the countryside and she's be commenting on farmhouses or the weather or the way the roads kind of intersected and I tell you if I had a cassette player rolling there would be four or five songs a night worth of material." Botti says she's unlike anyone he's ever spent time with, "It's just the way she is. It's just the way she can paint a picture verbally." He told us he prefers Mitchell's latter albums like 'Turbulent Indigo' and 'Night Ride Home.' Chris Botti is Smooth Jazz Now's 'Artist of the Month' for May. Read our exclusive interview.
May 'Artist Of The Month' Chris Botti Named One Of People's 50 Most Beautiful
 May 1, 2004 - Chris Botti didn't become Smooth Jazz Now's 'Artist of the Month' by being a hottie, that's the distinction that came from People magazine. Botti was named one of People magazine's 50 most beautiful in their April 28th issue. Read our interview with the popular trumpeter as he talks about touring with Sting and Joni Mitchell, his TV gig with Caroline Rhea and he gave us some insight on why most of his albums are slower and very moody. We talked to Botti via phone on March 31, 2004.
Chris Botti Talks About Sting, Swinging And A Thousand Kisses
 April 7, 2004 - Chris Botti just got off the road with Sting so we just had to ask him the sex question. Just one week after Sting's wife Trudy Styler announced on Howard Stern's morning show that the couple were swingers everyone's been wondering if she was being serious? "You know I never thought I would be questioned about that," says Botti bursting out laughing. "Of course I was like all other New Yorkers and I opened up page six and saw it and I'd left them the night before when our tour ended." Botti told Smooth Jazz Now as far as he's concerned it was all a big joke, "You know they have done that show so many times and they keep upping the anti as far as being outrageous and humorous. I haven't spoken to them in person about it but I can only imagine that they were having a laugh." Botti admits it's a crazy story but says Styler can "stand toe to toe with Howard Stern." The trumpeter told us he will not be part of the next leg of Sting's tour with Annie Lennox but may show up on selected gigs to jam with the band. As well as performing in Sting's band Botti also opened for the singer since January. He called the whole experience "an incredible honor." Read part one of our interview with Chris Botti.
Chris Botti Set To Debut New Radio Show
 March 12, 2004 - He obviously likes to keep really busy! Chris Botti has a new persona that of radio talk show host. The trumpeter is set to launch a new syndicated radio show called "Let's Chill with Chris Botti." The team behind the show are the same people who bring you the Dave Koz Radio Show, Rendezvous Entertainment, Broadcast Architecture and Crystal Media. The show will be on the air by summer. The Dave Koz Radio show is now heard on over one hundred markets. Chris Botti is currently on tour with Sting.
Sting, Annie Lennox Joining Forces For Tour
 March 9, 2004 - Two major vocals acts from Smooth Jazz radio are pairing for a tour this summer. Sting, Annie Lennox and another act yet to be named will tour amphitheatres from June to October. So far only five Canadians dates have been announced; Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary. Sting is currently on a North American tour with Trumpeter Chris Botti that wraps up on March 23 in Ottawa. So far Sting's latest album "Sacred Love" has sold one million copies in the United States alone. Members of Sting's fan club will have early access to tickets, some of which went on sale today. (March 8) Lennox latest "Bare" album has sold 743,000 copies so far in the U.S. The singer was competing with Sting at the Oscars on February 29th for "Song of the Year" - Lennox won for "Into the West" from "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."
Here are Sting/Annie Lennox's tour dates:
June 27: Camden, N.J. (Tweeter Center)
June 28: Mansfield, Mass. (Tweeter Center)
July 1: Wantagh, N.Y. (Jones Beach)
July 4: Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Saratoga PAC)
July 5: Uncasville, Conn. (Mohegan Sun)
July 7: Holmdel, N.J. (PNC Bank Arts Center)
July 9: Bristow, Va. (Nissan Pavilion)
July 10: Burgettstown, Pa. (Post-Gazette Pavilion)
July 11: Darien Center, N.Y. (Darien Lake Six Flags PAC)
July 13: Montreal (Bell Centre)
July 14: Toronto (Air Canada Centre)
July 16: Auburn Hills, Mich. (Palace of Auburn Hills)
July 17: Milwaukee (Marcus Amphitheatre)
July 18: Tinley Park, Ill. (Tweeter Center)
July 20: Minneapolis (Target Center)
July 21: Bonner Springs, Kan. (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)
July 23: Noblesville, Ind. (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)
July 24: Maryland Heights, Mo. (UMB Bank Pavilion)
July 25: Cincinnati (Riverbend Music Center)
July 27: Columbus, Ohio (Germain Amphitheatre)
July 28: Hershey, Pa. (Hersheypark Stadium) 		Sept. 2: Atlanta (Philips Arena)
Sept. 3: Charlotte, N.C. (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)
Sept. 4: Raleigh, N.C. (Alltel Pavilion)
Sept. 6: Antioch, Tenn. (Starwood Amphitheatre)
Sept. 8: West Palm Beach, Fla. (Sound Advice Amphitheatre)
Sept. 9: Tampa, Fla. (Tampa Bay Amphitheatre)
Sept. 17: Selma, Texas (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)
Sept. 18: Woodlands, Texas (C.W. Mitchell Pavilion)
Sept. 19: Dallas (Smirnoff Music Centre)
Sept. 22: Denver (Pepsi Center)
Sept. 24: Las Vegas (MGM Grand)
Sept. 25: Phoenix (Cricket Pavilion)
Sept. 26: Chula Vista, Calif. (Coors Amphitheatre)
Oct. 1: Irvine, Calif. (Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre)
Oct. 2: Mountain View, Calif. (Shoreline Amphitheatre)
Oct. 3: Concord, Calif. (Chronicle Pavilion)
Oct. 5: Marysville, Calif. (Sleep Train Amphitheatre)
Oct. 8: Auburn, Wash. (White River Amphitheatre)
Oct. 9: Vancouver (GM Place)
Oct. 11: Edmonton, Alberta (Rexall Place)
Oct. 12: Calgary, Alberta (Pengrowth Saddledome)


Sting & Chris Botti Support Dominic Miller
March 7, 2004 - It was a surprise but then again it wasn't. Both Sting and Trumpeter Chris Botti showed up for guitarist Dominic Miller's (left) album release concert party last Thursday night. (March 4) Miller has been working with Sting since the early nineties and Botti has been in the fold for the last few years. The event at New York's Joe's Pub celebrated the release of Miller's third solo album "Shapes" which features Sting on his own 1993 hit "Shape Of My Heart" and Botti's trumpet on "Prelude No. 3 for Clavier." Botti stuck around and performed on the latter plus Schubert's "Ave Maria." The albums sound moves from Classical to a simple acoustic feel. Miller who is currently on the road with Sting and Botti will do solo gigs on his off nights during the world tour.
Chris Botti "Jazz It Up In Boston" Sweepstakes
February 23, 2004 - It's been a high profile couple of years for Chris Botti. The trumpeter received great exposure last year as Caroline Rhea's Musical Director on her daytime talk show and he's played with Sting since 2000. Botti is currently touring with Sting, serving as the opening act and adding his usual trumpet magic to Sting's set. Sony and USA Today have just announced a great contest for Botti fans. The grand prize includes round trip airfare and concert tickets to Sting and Botti's show in Boston on March 15. Three nights accommodations at the Marriott, a meet and greet with Botti plus his CD and DVD catalogue and more. To enter click here. http://jazzsweeps.sonymusic.com
Chris Botti To Open For Sting
January 6, 2004 - Congratulations to Trumpeter Chris Botti for landing the opening act gig on the next Sting tour. Botti whose played in Sting's band for the past two years will open for the first leg of Sting's tour starting on January 23 in Miami. Botti, whose latest album is "Thousand Kisses Deep" played with Dave Koz on his Christmas tour last month. Botti was also featured on both Sting's latest album "Sacred Love" and the accompanied DVD "The Songs of Sacred Love.

Chris Botti - Sting Tour Dates    
01-23-04 Miami US Knight Center
01-26-04 Tampa US TPAC
01-28-04 New Orleans US Saenger
01-30-04 San Antonio US Majestic
01-31-04 Dallas US Nextstage
02-02-04 Milwaukee US Milwaukee Theatre
02-03-04 Minneapolis US Northrop
02-05-04 Denver US Fillmore
02-10-04 Los Angeles US Pantages
02-13-04 San Diego US Copley Symphony Hall
02-17-04 Oakland US Paramount
02-23-04 Cleveland US State Theater
02-24-04 Columbus US Ohio Theatre
02-26-04 Detroit US Opera House
02-27-04 Chicago US Rosemont
03-02-04 New York City US Beacon
03-03-04 New York City US Beacon
03-05-04 New York City US Beacon
03-11-04 Washington US Warner Theatre
03-12-04 Philadelphia US Tower Theater

03-15-04 Boston US Orpheum
03-16-04 Boston US Orpheum
03-17-04 Wallingford US Oakdale
03-22-04 Montreal CA Place des Arts
03-23-04 Ottawa Corel Centre

Botti and Krall Win Three National Smooth Jazz Awards
 June 20, 2003 - The ballots have finally been counted and trumpet master Chris Botti and Jazz diva Diana Krall each won three National Smooth Jazz Awards. The new artist of the year honors were given to Norah Jones. Check out the full list of winners
Chris Botti leaves Caroline Rhea
 May 16, 2003 - Though he has just wrapped up his guest/co-host gig on the The Caroline Rhea Show Trumpeter Chris Botti says he has no major plans for rest and relaxation. In fact the next six month look busier than his last six. Botti is in the studio working on the follow up to his successful Christmas album "December" released last year. Chris will also join Dave Koz later this year for a Holiday tour. Botti says he really enjoyed his time with Rhea "Working with Caroline Rhea proved to be such an amazing experience for me. I have been proud, on a daily basis, to be on stage with her."
Chris Botti in Playboy
2002 - In case you've missed it, Chris Botti is featured in the June edition of Playboy magazine. It's a fashion feature named 'Call of theWild' (sorry ladies no nudie stuff here) and Chris is all decked out in Hugo Boss and Donna Karan. Here's what Playboy says about Chris (pg 90-93).
"Jazz Musician Chris Botti single-handedly created a new musical genre. Think of him as Chet Baker for the Cafe Del Mar set. He has toured the world, both with Sting and as a solo artist- and he'll play the Playboy Jazz Festival on June 16th at the Hollywood Bowl."
Quotesf - "He sat in with my band a couple of times. Chris is great. We played together on the same stage in San Diego. We're going to try to get him on my next project. He's a good friend he's really turned into a good friend over the years. He's a real music guy and that's what I like. He loves it. He eats, sleeps, breaths music just like me so I love that." - Steve Oliver on Chris Botti