We have the great Chris Botti on the show today. I'm really excited about this one to both record and share it with you. On a whim I checked out Chris' website and happened to see that he was going to be in my neck of the woods, which these days is Virginia Beach, Virginia.

This interview that you're about to hear is not like the definitive explanation of Chris's philosophy, his approach to technique and pedagogy, his full history as a trumpeter.

I simply went on to some Facebook groups and just said, "Hey, I'm interviewing Chris Botti, what should I ask him?" A few people responded with some really good questions, and that's basically the meat and potatoes of the interview.

Enjoy!

What you'll hear in this episode:

-Why Trumpet is Chris' "calling card" in this new music business...04:20

-The paradigm shift of the music business explained from the perspective of one at the top...08:00

-One door closes, another opens for the little guy...14:40

-Chris' inspirations and influences as a trumpeter...19:45

-Why record making and gigging need to be approached radically differently...26:00

-Chris' recording and performing sound equipment...30:20

-Chris' daily routine and maintenance of the chops while touring...36:15

-Why Chris can't bear to part ways with his Martin Committee...37:30

-Why Sergei Nakariakov rarely tours in the U.S....42:00

-Reflections from host James Newcomb on the interview...44:55

-Plus whatever your discerning ears deem worthy of your time and interest...

Resources mentioned:

Chris' website

Other Side of the Bell podcast with Chris Botti

About the Guest:

GRAMMY-winning trumpeter Chris Botti has been one of the most popular instrumentalists in the world for nearly three decades; he’s collaborated with some of the biggest superstars on the planet, including Sting, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Steven Tyler, Andrea Bocelli, Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo Ma, and others; he’s topped the jazz charts with numerous albums, earned multiple Gold and Platinum records, performed with symphony orchestras and on prestigious stages from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House.

In short, Chris Botti really needs no introduction. Yet with his Blue Note Records debut, he’s offering one anyway. Vol.1 is in many ways a fresh start for the trumpeter. Having successfully crossed over from jazz renown to pop stardom, Botti’s first album in more than a decade finds him crossing back, with a small group project focused on acoustic jazz and classic standards.

“I turned 60 in 2022, at a time that seemed like a restart for so many things in the world,” Botti says. “I wanted to strip away all the orchestral arrangements and special guests and focus more on my playing, the playing of my band, and these jazz classics that we always love playing on stage.”

While Botti could boast of the major names with whom he’s shared stages, this project allows him to share his enthusiasm for the jazz greats past and present that excite him – his conversation is peppered with references to everyone from Miles Davis to Keith Jarrett to Pat Metheny to Brad Mehldau. He points to landmark albums like Davis’ Kind of Blue, John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, or Metheny’s duo outing with Charlie Haden, Beyond the Missouri Sky as models for the kind of “lifestyle” music he set out to make – music that is exquisite on its own but can also set the scene for a coffee shop or hotel lounge, instantly generating a sophisticated...

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