State Theatre New Jersey will welcome Grammy®-winning trumpeter Chris Botti on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 8:00 PM. With a career spanning nearly three decades, Botti is renowned as one of the world’s top instrumentalists. His collaborations include some of the biggest names in music, such as 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 many others.
Botti’s impressive discography includes numerous chart-topping jazz albums, multiple Gold and Platinum records, and performances at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Sydney Opera House.
Despite his extensive acclaim, Chris Botti is using his Blue Note Records debut to reintroduce himself with a fresh perspective. His new album, Vol. 1, marks a return to his jazz roots after achieving pop stardom. The album features a small group project centered on acoustic jazz and classic standards.
“I turned 60 in 2022, a time that felt like a reset for many things,” Botti reflects. “I wanted to focus more on my playing, my band, and the jazz classics that we love performing on stage, moving away from the orchestral arrangements and special guests.”
On this latest album, Botti is joined by a stellar lineup of musicians. Israeli guitarist Gilad Hekselman adds his atmospheric touch to the Rodgers & Hart classic “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.” Classical violinist Joshua Bell brings a profound passion to Botti’s interpretation of “My Funny Valentine.” Uruguayan guitarist Leonardo Amuedo contributes his Brazilian influences to Henry Mancini’s “Two for the Road” and the bossa nova stylings of “Time On My Hands.” Pianist Esteban Castro’s youthful restraint shines on “Old Folks,” while singer-songwriter John Splithoff performs his romantic composition “Paris.”
