Chris Botti

Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and composer Chris Botti launched his professional career after being selected for the McDonald’s All American High School Jazz Band in 1981, making his debut performance at Carnegie Hall. Following studies with jazz luminaries Woody Shaw and George Coleman, Botti toured with Frank Sinatra and Buddy Rich in the mid-1980s. By 1985, he established himself as a studio musician in New York City, leading to a pivotal decade-long touring and recording relationship with Paul Simon that began in 1990, including a Central Park performance on ‘The Rhythm of the Saints’ tour (1991) and co-producing ‘Evocations’ on the Brecker Brothers’ 1991 album ‘Out of the Loop.’ He also performed and recorded with Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, and Joni Mitchell. Botti released his solo debut, ‘First Wish,’ in 1995, followed by ‘Midnight Without You’ (1997) and ‘Slowing Down the World’ (1999), which featured collaborations with Sting and Jonatha Brooke.

Most recently, Botti released ‘Vol. 1’ in 2023, his highly anticipated debut album on Blue Note Records, signifying a new chapter for the Grammy Award-winning trumpeter.