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Chris Botti – Jazz Trumpeter and Composer from Portland Oregon

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By PDX People

PORTLAND, Ore. – Over the last 20 years Chris Botti has been a mainstay of the smooth jazz scene thanks to his albums like 2001’s Night Sessions, and work with many well-known musicians over the years like Sting and Paul Simon, but before he became a well-known trumpeter he was born and raised in the Portland Oregon area.

Miles Davis Influence

Since hearing Miles Davis play the song: My Funny Valentine at the age of 12, Chris Botti committed himself to playing the trumpet and by the age of 17 he was able to finish his senior year in high school at Mount Hood Community college because he was able to fulfill the remaining credits needed to finish high school there and study jazz at the same time.

What most fans don’t know is that while he was still in his teens Chris Botti was also playing in local clubs at night.

Once he got into college Botti was the recipient of two grants that made it possible for him to study well-known jazz musicians George Coleman and Woody Shawn during his summer breaks.

Early Years

Chris Botti’s career officially started in the early 1990’s with his album: First wish and from 1995 to 1999 he stayed busy by collaborating with recording artists like Jonatha Brooke, the Bruford Levin Upper Extremities and composing the score for the 1996 film Caught but his career really took off when he was invited to tour and later record with Sting for his Brand New Day Tour.

The years that he spent touring and recording with Sting proved to be instrumental in his career, including the live album/DVD project, All This Time, which was also filmed on September 11th, 2001, the day of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. Soil.

All of the musicians involved with the project were reluctant to perform that day since by the time the concert was set to start the attacks in the United States had already occurred but Sting, Botti and the other musicians who performed managed to have a powerful concert which continues to be regarded as one of the strongest of concerts of Sting’s career.

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Chris Botti and Sting

Chris Botti Today

At the age of 54, Chris Botti doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, he’s released 12 studio albums to date and continues performing around the world.

Besides his studio albums and touring, Chris Botti has also stayed busy over the years making appearances on television shows like the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and talk shows.

Botti’s mastery of the trumpet rivals that of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Chuck Mangione and Chet Baker.  He also plays a trumpet made in the 1930’s and his mouth pieces that date back from the 1920’s.

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