Search - Chris Botti :: Chris Botti in Boston (CD/DVD)

Jazz + Rock + Boston Pops = Starry Starry Night

Lilly Mae | Augusta, Georgia | 04/01/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A front row seat to the best concert of the year. I love that artists are putting out CD/DVDs!!! Listening to Chris Botti's music is divine but watching him play is divin-est--I know thats not a real word but you get the idea :). Chris is a commanding presence on stage even when surrounded by stellar-stars like Sting, Steven Tyler, Yo-yo Ma, John Mayer and the sexy Katherine McPhee. He's confident and funny, and like all great performers, he takes your hand and navigates you seamlessly through the show. He remained calm even when, mid-song, a guy in the second row had a heart attack!! Apparently he lived (watch his hilarious intv. in the behind the scenes material)!



Then, of course, there is the music. Chris' version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is so hauntingly beautiful I cry every time I hear it. I had tons of favorites but his duet with Steven Tyler singing "Smile" is so fun to watch, maybe because the two-shot of them playing together is fantastically incongruous. His band kills on When I Fall in Love, which is another favorite. And as many times as I've heard Miles Davis' Flamenco Sketches I never tire of hearing Chris play it; or Time to Say Goodbye, or Caruso; or Seven Days, his duet with the sublime Sting (it's not possible that that man is nearly 60). I guess I love all the songs.



Spend the extra few $ for the DVD it's worth getting a peek of the rehearsal (with all the funny screw-ups and authenticity of unguarded stars) and the behind the scenes interviews with Chris and Sting and Yo yo Ma and Josh Groban....and then there's John Mayer's sweet Kodak moment. Priceless."

Ear Candy

D. Kanigan | CT, USA | 04/01/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not certain that Chris Botti could release anything that I wouldn't rate a 5 so understand my bias. I have most of his audio CDs and I would rate this one near the top. Botti, in his own icy-cool signature, soulful and soothing sound - draws from jazz, pop and classical musical in his line-up. This CD was recorded at an event which took place on September 18th 2008 at Boston's famous Symphony Hall where Botti is joined by the Boston Pops Orchestra. In addition to new and seemingly even more compelling spins on his classic instrumental trumpet solos ("When I fall in Love"; "Time to Say Goodbye"; "Ave Maria"), Botti invites a unique cast of artists to join him on stage including Sting, Josh Groban, Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Yo-Yo Ma, John Mayer and Katherine McPhee (American Idol) - with my favorites being "I've Got You Under My Skin" with Botti/McPhee and "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You" with Botti/Sting and John Mayer's rendition of Sinatra's "Glad to Be Unhappy." Botti is at the top of his game in this performance - crisp, warm and soothing - and the man can hit and stick the high notes. Sit back, relax and be prepared to be entertained - - Botti has the magical ability to take you away to a happy place."

Pure Perfection!

Stewart E. White | San Diego, CA United States | 02/12/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are not many times in one's life where pure perfection is experienced but the "Chris Botti in Boston" DVD and music CD is one of them. Before you even listen to the music or see the DVD, you experience a mastery of package design and photography; the inside and outside black and white triptych is a creative visual feast as is the content booklet which is hidden in the center section.



From the first note, you know that something special is unfolding because of a tremendous sense of staging and audio space as created by the virtuoso master audio recordist, Al Schmitt, who should be considered the sixth member of Chris Botti's group.The other virtuoso artists in Chris' group include: Billy Childs-piano, Mark Whitfield-guitar, Robert Hurst-bass, and Billy Kilson-drums; masters all, each one bringing a unique talent to the event. Their synergy and energy synthesize into something unimaginable! All of this overlaid upon Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra whose very name invokes its well known excellence.



As if all this wasn't enough, there are the guest appearances by Sting, Josh Groban, Steven Tyler, YoYo Ma, John Mayer, Katherine McPhee, Lucia Micarelli, Sy Smith, Dominic Miller, Russ Irwin. What treasures and a splendid gift to the audience!



I won't even try to describe the performances in this work which are all beyond mere words so they must be heard.



I must also recognize the amazing multi-camera video work: the flying camera boom shots, the Steadicams, and every other implementation and process of the videomaker's art which left me breathless.



My personal experience? I am left with tears streaming down my face from the sight and sound of this magnificent work."