Chris Botti is a native of Portland, Oregon, who began playing the trumpet when he was nine, and committed fully to the discipline when he was 12, after hearing Miles Davis. He was a member of the McDonald’s All American High School Jazz Band, which led to his first appearance at Carnegie Hall.
He studied at the Indiana University School of Music, but left to tour with Buddy Rich and Frank Sinatra, finally relocating to New York City to pursue his career, where he gained experience working as a session musician. In 1990, he established a recording and touring partnership with Paul Simon, which led to him working with other stars including Roger Daltrey, Bette Midler, and Aretha Franklin.
He released his first studio album, “First Wish,” in 1995, and in 2013, won a Grammy for his album “Impressions,” which won as Best Pop Instrumental Album. He has put four albums in the No. 1 spot on the Billboard jazz albums chart. Of Botti, a critic writes:
“Botti brings a pure and soulful sound to his trumpet that few have been able to produce since Miles Davis passed away . . .”
Chris Botti will be at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, one of six performance venues in the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, on April 13. Organizers of this type of performance often work with poster printing to create advertising for the event.