Breathtaking Botti

This week has been another one of those passages that tells me life is beautiful. To be in the presence of Jazz at its pinnacle is a gift that is so precious it’s hard to put into words. I‘ve spent the last few days with Chris Botti and his incredible band as they begin a landmark journey into the great American songbook, one that is punctuated by the genius of their interpretations of some of the greatest songs of our time.

I’ve had the privilege of working on many of Chris’ latest releases by creating his electronic press kits or EPK’s as they are know in the business and Chris sets a standard and expectation that is eclipsed only by his warm accessibility and his mammoth talent.

This guy is creating the next generation of great American musical treasures. His ability to interpret song with the heart of a wounded lover and the soul of a sage poet is truly astonishing. With his fervent desire to carry the torch of musical purity he has attracted the very finest musicians in the world to join him in his quest. His two performances in Dallas with the Symphony there were breathtaking in their scope and finesse. Add the magnificent Billy Childs on piano, John Ossman on bass, Billy Kilson on drums and Gil Goldstein as conductor and you have Jazz in full view. The result is as beautiful as any sunset or vista you can imagine.

Billy Childs is singular in his ability to paint a masterpiece in rich, deep tones, all in real time…everyone on stage kept gasping quietly as Billy created living American art. And then Paula Cole was added to the repertoire. Her ferocious passion, control and power were perfectly bridled, like that of a thoroughbred. This was an evening I will always remember as one of my finest. Hanging with Chris after the gig was the cherry on the top of a mountainous musical cake…I ate the whole thing up like it was my very own personal birthday.

Chris is preparing for the release of his new musical jewel on October 18 th with a new duets classic titled ‘To Love Again’ featuring vocal collaborations with Sting, Paula Cole, Gladys Knight, Michael Buble’, Steven Tyler (from Aerosmith), Paula Cole, Jill Scott and more. Yes more.

I’m sitting listening to the CD for the first time right now at my W Hotel suite in LA and I’m flat freakin out. You won’t believe this new CD. What’s crazier is I’m headed to dinner with Chris tonight and really don’t know what to say to him about it. I know that he’s aware of his genius but I’m not sure he wants to have me sitting across the table with my mouth just hanging open slobbering and babbling. These are golden days for me, no one deserves all this least of all me.

Thanks Mom and Dad for setting me on this path and teaching me that passion and dedication has its rewards. This is something I would have never dreamed of in my lifetime.

JAZZ IS LOVE and sharing it with you each week and priceless friends like Chris Botti is proof of that.

JAZZ IS LOVE…share it.

See ya next week!

Stay tuned next week for more of Cameron’s Jazz Journals.

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