Chris Botti

Grammy winning trumpeter Chris Botti has been one of the most popular instrumentalists in the world for nearly three decades, collaborating with some of the biggest superstars on the planet, including Sting, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Andrea Bocelli, Herbie Hancock, and Yo-Yo Ma. Born in Portland, Oregon in 1962, Botti began playing trumpet at age nine and became dedicated to jazz at twelve after discovering Miles Davis’s version of My Funny Valentine. He studied at Indiana University under jazz educator David Baker and trumpeter Bill Adam, and went on to spend five years touring with Paul Simon’s band before launching his solo career with First Wish in 1995. Four of his albums have reached number one on the Billboard Jazz Album Chart, and he won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album for Impressions. Botti has performed with symphony orchestras on prestigious stages from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House, and continues to tour heavily with his acclaimed ensemble.