Chris Botti
Blue Note131 West 3rd Street, New York 10012
Chris Botti is billed for this Blue Note date in Manhattan. The available event material identifies Botti and his band as the residency act, but does not confirm the musicians or full formation for December 18. Expect the focus to be on Botti's trumpet-led performance in Blue Note's dedicated listening-room setting, where audiences sit close to the stage and the music carries the evening. No guest, release, tribute, or other one-night theme is confirmed for this performance.
Botti is a Grammy-winning trumpeter from Portland, Oregon whose career has moved, in Blue Note Records' words, “from jazz renown to pop stardom.” His Vol. 1 project marked a return toward acoustic jazz and classic standards. Across his career, he has collaborated with Sting, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Frank Sinatra, Joni Mitchell, Andrea Bocelli, Herbie Hancock, and Yo-Yo Ma. AllMusic calls him “a lyrical jazz trumpeter known for his stylishly romantic sound,” a description that points to the melodic side of his work without pinning this particular night to a fixed program.
Blue Note Jazz Club is a dedicated listening room in the heart of Manhattan's jazz district, where the music is the focus and the space is designed to let the sound fill the room. The club features a stage with a small audience area, and the atmosphere is one of quiet concentration on the music. Shows typically begin at 8:00 PM with a second set at 10:30 PM, and the audience sits on chairs close to the stage. The club has a bar, and drinks are available. The experience is primarily about listening to live jazz, with occasional gospel and soul performances, and the audience often stays to talk and enjoy the music after the sets.