Chris Botti is one of the most successful instrumentalists in history.
The immensely talented jazz-pop trumpeter has hit No. 1 on the Billboard jazz albums chart on multiple occasions and sold millions of records during a professional career that dates back to the mid-’80s.
And after being nominated for multiple Grammy Awards, the Oregon native finally managed to win one when Grammy voters named “Impressions” the best pop instrumental album in 2013.
Botti has also worked with a regular who’s who in the pop world, having collaborated with James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Sting, Shawn Colvin, Barbra Streisand, Aaron Neville, Rod Stewart and many others over the years.
Oh, and did we mention he has also played with both Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin? Now, that’s impressive company.
He’s currently out on the road supporting “Vol. 1,” which — incredibly — is just his first full-length studio outing since “Impressions” in 2012. It was produced by 16-time Grammy-winner David Foster and features violinist Joshua Bell, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, guitarist Gilad Hekselman and Bay Area pianist Taylor Eigsti.
Botti performs Jan. 7-12 at SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco. Tickets are $55-$185, sfjazz.org.
