Guest Artist Bio
Chris Botti
Since the release of his 2004 critically acclaimed CD When I Fall In Love, Chris Botti (pronounced BOAT-tee) has become the best-selling American jazz instrumental artist. His success has crossed over to audiences usually reserved for pop music, and his ongoing association with PBS has led to four No. 1 jazz albums, as well as multiple gold and platinum records and Grammy Awards.
Botti is an Oregon native who was born in Portland and raised in Corvallis before enrolling at Indiana University and, eventually, moving to New York. The last time he shared the stage with the Oregon Symphony – at two December 2008 concerts called “Home for the Holidays” – Botti reminisced about learning his instrument as a teen in Portland: performing at Delevan’s, playing in Ron Steen’s band and studying with former Oregon Symphony principal trumpeter Fred Sautter.
Now Botti spends more than 250 days on the road each year. Botti and his band perform regularly with many of the finest orchestras, at some of the world's most prestigious venues, including performances at the World Series and Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.
Over the past three decades, Botti has recorded and performed with the best in music, including Frank Sinatra, Sting, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, John Mayer, Andrea Bocelli, Joshua Bell and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler.
People Magazine voted Botti one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in 2004. More information online: chrisbotti.com