Product Description

December 2005. Los Angeles, California. Trumpeter Chris Botti, on the heels of his break-through gold certified album "When I Fall In Love," and the record-breaking follow-up, "To Love Again," plays two triumphant shows at the Wilshire Theatre backed by a full orchestra and his virtuosic band. Playing repertoire mostly culled from these two hit albums, Chris is joined onstage by some of the world’s most accomplished singers and musicians (in order of appearance): Sting, Jill Scott, Paula Cole, Burt Bacharach, Renee Olstead, Paul Buchanan, and Gladys Knight. The show is filmed for the PBS special, "Chris Botti Live with orchestra & special guests…and this DVD.

"A passionate evening of instrumental storytelling…it was apparent from the first notes Chris Botti played at the Wilshire Theatre on Friday, that the sold-out house was in for a special evening." -Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times

Almost one full hour of bonus features– with backstage footage and exclusive interviews.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48926 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-08-22
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Enhanced, Live, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 108 minutes

Amazon.com
Jazz trumpeter Chris Botti is mostly exquisite on this concert DVD, which gives old fans and new arrivals a chance to hear him apply his rich, expressive playing to a number of old standards, as well as one or two of his own compositions. Botti, along with a remarkable band including Billy Childs on piano and Billy Kilson on drums, plays six numbers as instrumentals but is joined on eight other performances by a few guests. Sans vocals, Botti warms up a delighted audience with a nice, if slightly exercised, take on "Someone to Watch Over Me," but proves magnificent on "When I Fall In Love" and especially Leonard Cohen's "A Thousand Kisses Deep." Then out glides old pal Sting (who invited Botti to join his own touring band some years ago), who has a nice go at "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?", followed by jazz-blues belter Jill Scott's terrific "Good Morning Heartache." Less effective are two appearances by Paula Cole, of which the second, "The Look of Love," doesn't work particularly well for anyone, including Botti and composer-pianist Burt Bacharach (also onstage). Renee Olstead sizzles up the joint with her kittenish "Pennies from Heaven," and Sting returns for a comic if touching "My Funny Valentine." --Tom Keogh

From the Director
1. Someone To Watch Over Me
2. When I Fall In Love
3. A Thousand Kisses Deep
4. What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life featuring Sting
5. Good Morning Heartache featuring Jill Scott
6. My One and Only Love featuring Paula Cole & Burt Bacharach
7. Pennies From Heaven featuring Renee Olstead
8. Are You Lonesome Tonight? Featuring Paul Buchanan
9. Lover Man featuring Gladys Knight
10. My Funny Valentine featuring Sting
11. Why Not
12. One For My Baby
13. Bows (Credits)

Special Features:
* "Behind the Scenes: Chris Botti Live"- Never Before Seen Exclusive Footage of the concert event takes the viewer behind the scenes
* "The Musicians"- A profile of Chris Botti's extra ordinary band: Bill Childs (Piano), Billy Kilson (Drums), James Genus (Bass) and Mark Whitfield (Guitar)
* "One For My Baby"- This song was not part of the original PBS Broadcast
* "Interview With Chris"- An extensive interview with Chris, giving his personal account of the events that led up to these fantastic concerts.
* "Message in a Bottle" - Sting fronts Chris band for a stunning version of the Police Classic not on the PBS Broadcast

Video/Audio:
Mastered in High
Dolby Digital Stereo
PCM 5.1 Surround Sound (96khz/24 bit)
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

About the Actor
CHRIS BOTTI LIVE documents two wonderful concerts recorded in December of 2005 featuring Chris, his band, the backing of a full orchestra and featuring some VERY special guests.

Special Guest Artists: Sting, Gladys Knight, Paul Buchanan, Jill Scott, Renee Olstead, Burt Bacharach & Paula Cole

Includes almost one full hour of bonus features:

* "The Making of Chris Botti Live" – an in-depth documentary that takes the viewer behind the scenes of this once in a lifetime concert event – with many exclusive interviews.

* "The Musicians" – a profile of Chris Botti’s extraordinary band: Billy Childs (piano), Billy Kilson (drums), James Genus (bass) and Mark Whitfield (guitar).

* "One For My Baby" – exclusive to this DVD, this song was not part of the original PBS broadcast.

* "Interview with Chris" - an extensive interview with Chris, giving his personal account of the events that led up to these fantastic concerts.

* "Message In A Bottle" – BONUS performance - Sting fronts Chris’ band for a stunning version of the Police classic. Not on the PBS broadcast.

CD TRACKLISTING
The CD, available ONLY in this version contains all 14 tracks from the DVD – in audio only

DVD TRACKLISTING
1) Someone To Watch Over Me
2) When I Fall In Love
3) A Thousand Kisses Deep
4) What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?- featuring Sting
5) Good Morning Heartache- featuring Jill Scott
6) My One and Only Love- featuring Paula Cole
7) The Look Of Love- featuring Paula Cole and Burt Bacharach
8) Cinema Paradiso
9) Pennies From Heaven- featuring Renee Olstead
10) Are You Lonesome Tonight?- featuring Paul Buchanan
11) Lover Man- featuring Gladys Knight
12) My Funny Valentine- featuring Sting
13) Why Not
14) One For My Baby— BONUS not on original PBS broadcast

Customer Reviews

Re-playing the magic of a
After this magic night in L.A. with an all-star cast of guest vocalists, Chris Botti took the show on the road -- minus the great singers -- and on five consecutive nights stopped in as many Canadian cities, including this one. The all-instrumental show was, to my memory, even better (than this original show) because of the extended solos by Chris himself and his brilliant, accompanying musicians.

Botti told his Winnipeg audience that, when he toured with Sting, he was urged to "find yourself the best drummer in the world - and make him the heart of your band."

"So I Googled," he said, "for 'The baddest- *ss drummer in the world,' and up came the name Billy Kilson." Then Botti told us: "What you are about to see, you will not believe." He wasn't exaggerating. The drum solo (I forget the tune -- doesn't matter) was beyond any musical experience I've witnessed since Oscar Peterson last performed here 20 years ago.

I turned to the person next to me and said, "This is like watching a god." At one point Billy Kilson was performing with just one hand, multiple rhythms, with alternating shadings so subtle it sounded like he was using brushes, not sticks.

The entire band stood out in the front lobby of our "Burton Cummings Theatre" and signed autographs until every last patron had gone out into that good night. I wanted to talk to other members of this all star band, comprised of Grammy-winners, including pianist Billy Childs and guitarist Mark Whitfield. Instead, I went straight for Bill Kilson.

"Who are your heroes?" Billy thought about it a minute, (he has a modest, gentle demeanor) and said, "My teacher" (a lesser-known jazz drummer - but an influential artist whose name I can't recall six months later). When he'd mentioned just that one name, I asked: "Anyone else?"

"Max Roach," he said.

The solo Kilson performs on this DVD is impressive enough; but after seeing him 'in person' on a more extended solo, I would urge jazz fans to find a way to see Billy Kilson "live and in person," -- and be prepared to re-arrange your personal pantheon of greatest-ever drummers! Good to see that the Amazon.com editorial review (above) mentions his name and the word "remarkable" in the same sentence!

The "bonus track" on this DVD concert, also happened to be Chris Botti's lone 'encore' here in Winnipeg -- a gorgeous rendition of the Arlen/Mercer classic written for Frank Sinatra. The trumpeter told us: "I worked with Sinatra for two weeks at the start of my career -- when I was fresh out of college!" It was, he said, "the greatest musical experience of my life"

For the Winnipeg audience that gave him a standing ovation, his performance of "One for My Baby" -- ALONE -- was worth the price of admission!

Impressed
I always make fun of my friends who think their hip because they listen to smooth jazz. They drop names like Rick Braun, Kenny G and Norman Brown in the same sentences as Coltrane, Miles, Coleman and Ellington like there's no difference. Don't get me wrong- I like smooth jazz too- for what it is and what it isn't. That being said, I just watched the Chris Botti special on PBS during pledge and I am impressed with Chris Botti. Yeah, I knew he did the regular smooth jazz stuff. But he can actually play.This DVD chronicles an evening with the London Orchestra. He and his guest show remarkable range as they explore jazz standards and a couple of pop songs. I especially enjoyed Good Morning Heartache with Jill Scott and Pennies from Heaven with Renee Olstead (who the heck is that... trust me she can "SANG" !!!). I listened to ths using my Harmon Kardon's Hall setting and it sounded pretty good but no cigar. I can't wait to watch this with the 5.1 mix on the DVD.
All in all this is a nice DVD to have that showcases a smooth jazz stallworth bluring the lines to straight ahead jazz. I will certainily add this to my collection.

great show!
I happened to catch most of this special on PBS the other night. What a lovely concert! Not at all boring. The chemistry between Chris and his guests is so apparent during their duets. You can totally feel that Chris' trumpet is an extension of him; it's his voice and, coupled with a talented singer, is truly a treat for the eyes and ears. I was a little disappointed with Paula Cole's rendition of The Look of Love; she sounded kind of like she was sick and was a little off-key. Other than that, she has a beautiful voice. But the best performance that I saw, the one that brought me to my feet, was JILL SCOTT. I have no words for how stunning her performance was. It was not a sad, slow song but it brought tears to my eyes because she was so phenomenal. She brought down the house! Sting was so-so and Paul Buchanan was so-so. I am sorry that I missed Gladys Knight. Renee Olstead has an incredible voice (esp. for someone so young) but the song she sang did not do her much justice. All in all, the concert was great- I wish I had been there. I can not wait for the DVD to come out!