Chris Botti at his best in Impressions

I listen to Impressions by Chris Botti and I think, beautiful. That is such an overused word but there is nothing I can think of that would best describe the album. It is an incredible mixture of sounds. Heavenly. Moving. Inspiring. Romantic. It makes me want to tell everybody that this guy, whom I first encountered as a trumpet player who made it to People Magazine’s list of beautiful people has now become a total music artist.

Impressions makes me think of Herbie Hancock, Sting, Paul McCartney and Quincy Jones. They are all pop artists who also mastered the intricacies of the art of recorded music. While others are contented doing the hits that their public expects from them, they surmounted the limitations of their assigned genres. Think of Jones getting Michael Jackson into Thriller or of Hancock with his Imagine album. What about Sting and his live recordings or of McCartney composing a symphony?

Botti is not yet there. Almost. But he got a lot of great help for his Impressions. Producer is Bobby Columby, drummer of the iconic band Blood, Sweat & Tears. He is fearless and he guided Botti through the paces that will take him from his usual pop and jazz to the edge of world music. Botti certainly proved himself more than just an instrumentalist in this CD. I do not know if it was Botti or Columby’s idea to put this stuff together but they made the music work — to take on Brazilian jazz, Broadway, Michael Jackson soul and Argentine tango. And surprise, these all go well together. Botti’s trumpet links them all and he excels in every cut.

Take a look, too, at the impressive names of those who joined the ride. They knew a good thing was coming out of the project and did not want to miss the chance. Botti starts off big with Chopin’s Prelude No. 20 in C Minor. Then he ends with the Good Morning Vietnam theme, What A Wonderful World. The tune is already impressive enough as it is with Botti on the trumpet. But just look at what he did. He has Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits singing along. The result is simple but affecting and it is one of the best versions I have ever heard of this song.

So he goes from Chopin to Knopfler. Now take a look at what else or I should say, who else, Botti has in between. Per Te (For You) composed by Botti and David Foster who also arranged with vocals by Andrea Bocelli; En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor, the classic work by the great Spanish composer and guitarist, Joaquin Rodrigo; Jackson’s You Are Not Alone written by R. Kelly; Randy Newman’s Losing You with vocals by country music star Vince Gill.

Tango Suite composed by Botti and Hancock who also plays piano; Setembro by the Brazilian jazz great Ivan Lins; Oblivion with violinist Caroline Campbell; Sevdah by film music director Gabriel Yared; the Gershwin classic Summertime from Porgy And Bess with Foster on the piano; Contigo En La Distancia from Cuban Cesar Portillo de la Luz again with Foster on the piano; and a lovely duet of trumpet and guitar for a heartfelt Over The Rainbow.

Botti will be in town on June 19 for a special performance for Radio High 105.9 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila. Chris Botti Live In Manila is presented by RWM and Globe Telecoms. The show will benefit the Young Musicians Development Organization. Call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph for ticket inquiries and reservations.

This is Botti’s second time in the country. He was at the Greenbelt Fashion Walk last November for the launch of Radio High. He was very good then, a real spellbinder with his trumpet. But I expect more from him this time around. You come up with something as beautiful as Impressions and you will surely find your audience wanting more of the same. His usual When I Fall In Love would be great but perhaps he will also blow me away with Aranjuez.