Chris Botti – courtesy SFJAZZ

Trumpeter extraordinaire Chris Botti makes a very welcome return visit to SFJAZZ this week, playing in the Miner Auditorium for nine performances – four of which are nearly sold out. This comes as no surprise, since the world’s biggest-selling jazz instrumentalist is as popular here as he is the world over, with sales of over 3 million albums to his credit.

The artist who, at the age of 12, was initially inspired by hearing Miles Davis playing My Funny Valentine, has appeared and/or worked with names such as Frank Sinatra, Joni Mitchell, Sting, Mark Knopfler, Herbie Hancock, Andrea Bocelli and Yo Yo Ma. He was also commissioned to perform his version of Chopin’s Prelude No 20 in Warsaw for the anniversary of the composer’s birth, has recorded an album with the Boston Pops Orchestra, and won a GRAMMY for Best Pop Instrumental Album with his 2012 release Impressions.

He therefore needs no introduction to Bay Area audiences, however a review which appeared in Arts ATL last June indicates that Chris Botti is riding as high as ever. His tone was described as “a luxurious blanket of sound that conjures a hint of nostalgia”, and his interpretation of My Funny Valentine as “alchemy itself, a mysterious transformation of mood that only an artist like Botti can summon”.

Chris Botti appears in the Miner Auditorium from January 9 to 14. For tickets and more information, visit the SFJAZZ website.

Information sources:

SFJAZZ program notes

Website (Chris Botti)