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CHRIS
BOTTI |
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Thirty years ago in 1979, famous Blood, Sweat & Tears founding drummer turned producer extraordinaire Bobby Colomby was about to begin his now historic production of what this writer believes to be among the finest instrumental rock albums ever madethe first self-titled Group 87 album, released on black vinyl Lp in 1980 on Columbia Records. Flash forward to 2009, Colomby imparts his famous producer skills to the Columbia Records release of Chris Botti In Boston. While the trumpet sound in Group 87 belongs to now iconic film music composer and New Age pioneer Mark Isham, the trumpet magic of Chris Botti clearly belongs to a new generation of music makers, but the magic is there nevertheless. With keen memories, this fan watched in vain as Group 87 sadly perished in an early 80s prog-rock blaze of glory. Perhaps eschewing the ultimate act of infinite artistic integrity that was the original Group 87Colombys 2009 production of Bottis In Boston more sagaciously sticks with the big time show biz element of modern music and in doing so, Botti comes across as the Chet Baker of the 21st century jazz-rock generation. Blending film score type efforts to neo Broadway, Sinatra cool and Miles-flecked fusion jazzall framed for mass appeal through the auspices of Colombys flashy productionthe live CD/DVD of In Boston spotlights Bottis trumpet backed up by the legendary Boston Pops Orchestra, while working in an array of guest star singers including Sting, Steven Tyler (a gut wrenching take of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile), John Mayer (sounding like Tony Bennett here!), the operatic Josh Groban, classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Stings guitarist Dominic Miller and Bottis band including guitarist Mark Whitfield and drummer Billy Kilson. Recorded and filmed live in concert at Symphony Hall in Boston on September 18 and 19, 2008, In Boston comes packaged with a 13 track CD paired and an expertly filmed and recorded DVD of the two hour concert, plus a forty minute documentary of the show. 1979, Mark Isham, 2009 Chris Botti. Clearly, Bobby Colomby must have a thing for fantastic trumpet players! www.ChrisBotti.com |
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