Chris Botti
Featured Artist: Chris Botti
Title: Italia
Label: Columbia Records
Style: Smooth Jazz
Reviewer: Candi R. Sellers
"Chris Botti has the integrity of Miles Davis, the sexiness of Chet Baker and sells records like Kenny G. It's a triple combination," says legendary music producer David Foster. With his latest album Italia---Botti will find few critics. Simply stated---Botti continues to master the world of jazz alongside his soul mate and partner&the trumpet.
One might wonder how Botti is able to capture the essence of Italy through his gripping trumpet playing and soulful melodies as with Italia. A little known fact about Botti is that he actually lived in Italy as a child for a few years. While in the country, this All-American/Oregon bred trumpeter-extraordinaire fell in love with Italy's art, culture, fashion, food, its people---and yes&the motherland's native music. With that being said, Italia brilliantly encapsulates the spirit of Italy through posh love themes and Neapolitan songs.
This 12-track CD is Botti's homage to Italy and will be remembered as one of the top romance albums of 2008. From its stirring and regal opener "Deborah's Theme,"( from the movie Upon a Time in America) through its celestial and sultry vocals of Paula Cole on "The Very Thought of You," Botti stays true to his personal mission of delivering only stellar music to both jazz and pop enthusiasts alike. In addition, Italia delivers a haunting and hypnotic remake of "Ave Maria," and is able to rekindle the Dean Martin magic with a posthumous duet of "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face."
It would have been impossible for Botti to put together a CD playing tribute to Italy without using the talents of one of Italy's favorite sons&Andrea Bocelli---the operatic pop tenor who is beloved throughout Italy and around the globe. Bocelli lends his vocals on the title track. As a matter of fact, "Italia" was the first song recorded by the musical giant, and Botti then carved the rest of the disc around Bocelli's performance.
Botti's control of the trumpet commands both awe and respect as he performs flawlessly in "The Way You Look Tonight," "It Never Entered My Mind," and "Estate." Botti also takes on the colossal task of interposing opera to our modern-day pop-saturated culture. Botti's eloquent recreation of Puccini's "Nessun Dorma" brings honor once again to the famed Italian Turandot opera.
We suggest you pair Botti's latest group of seductive romantic songs with the very Italian Kurni from Oasi Degli Angeli in Marche. It is an incredibly lush, deep, dark wine made from 100% Montepulciano grapes, lending its smooth, dark black cherry, spice and leather notes. This limited production of wine is like the music of Italia---long lasting romantic for sure!