Fitz's Jazz Café Welcomes Chris Botti

Gifted instrumentalist, talented composer and charismatic performer, Chris Botti is on his way to the McCallum Theatre this season on Thursday, January 25 at 8pm. Since the release of his first solo album in 1995, Chris Botti has created a series of recordings that have made him a virtual genre-of-one in the realm of contemporary jazz. Through his singular combination of lush atmospheres and thoughtful improvisations, Botti has earned both critical acclaim and mainstream appreciation.

Botti's latest album, "To Love Again," showcases Chris Botti's inimitable velvet tone and sublime trumpet phrasings on 13 newly recorded pop and jazz standards featuring nine stand-out vocal performances by some of the greatest singers in modern pop, jazz, and rock. After the first week of release the album debuted in the Billboard Top 200 in the #18 chart position promising great things. Billboard Magazine has predicted it could be "an even bigger hit" than its RIAA gold-certified predecessor which remains in the Top Five of the Traditional Jazz Chart and has sold more than 500,000 copies to-date.

Joining Chris on the new album are guest vocalists Sting, Paula Cole, Michael Bublé, Jill Scott, Paul Buchanan, Gladys Knight, Renee Olstead, Rosa Passos and Steven Tyler. Also joining him again on his last album for the instrumental tracks is the London Session Orchestra, who provides lush tonal coloration to the album's arrangements.

In the studio and on-stage, the veteran of both the contemporary jazz world and mainstream pop studio scene, Botti has worked with Joni Mitchell, Sting, Natalie Merchant, and renowned film composer John Barry, among others. As a child, the Oregon native looked to his mother, a classically trained pianist and part-time piano teacher, as his earliest musical influence. He pursued his music studies with a succession of outstanding teachers: David Friesen in the Northwest, Dave Baker in Indiana, and - following Botti's move to New York City in 1986 - the late trumpet master Woody Shaw.

In 2000, Chris joined Sting for two years of roadwork as the featured soloist with the latter's "Brand New Day" band. While on hiatus from Sting tours, Botti recorded "Night Sessions" - inspired by the sounds of the late-night European club scene. The album became a breakthrough contemporary jazz hit upon its release in October 2001.

In October 2002, Chris released the holiday theme album "December," and while promoting that album, Botti appeared on "The Caroline Rhea Show." He was invited to return the next day and was then promptly hired as Rhea's on-air partner, chatting with the host at the start of every show and frequently sitting in with a house band led by bassist Tim LeFebvre. Before he knew it, it was May 2003 and Chris had been part of "The Caroline Rhea Show" for five months.

Following his stint on "The Caroline Rhea Show," Botti recorded "A Thousand Kisses Deep" and later, "When I Fall In Love," which was "discovered" by Oprah Winfrey, who quickly championed his artistry to her audience, presenting him on her show in November of 2004. Within a week of his performance he had sold more than 50,000 CD's and has not stopped since - maintaining its top-five presence on the charts all the while.

Show-stopping Chris Botti is has the charisma to captivate an audience and the talent to keep them captivated: A truly amazing live performance experience.

Desert Lexus, Amore Ristorante Italiano, Masters Financial Group, Rancho Las Palmas Resort, Time Warner Cable Media Sales and KJJZ 102.3-FM sponsor Fitz's Jazz Café at the McCallum's presentation of Chris Botti.

Tickets for Chris Botti, on Thursday, January 25 at 8pm. Ticket prices are $85/65/55/45. -- www.mccallumtheatre.com