Photo: chrisbotti.comChris Botti in Boston
Album Overview
On September 18 and 19, 2008, inside Boston Symphony Hall, a hundred people held their breath. Perhaps they were waiting for Chris Botti’s trumpet to sound the first note. Perhaps they were waiting to see which of the evening’s legendary guests would walk on stage first.
Then Sting appeared. Then Yo-Yo Ma. Then Josh Groban, John Mayer, and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.
The evening began with Schubert’s Ave Maria and ended with Time to Say Goodbye — traversing jazz, classical, rock, pop, and film scores along the way. It sounds like an impossible dream lineup, but it actually happened in Boston in September 2008.
This live recording went platinum in the United States and earned three Grammy nominations: Best Pop Instrumental Album, Best Instrumental Arrangement, and Best Long Form Music Video.
Track Highlights
Ave Maria
Schubert’s most beloved melody, introduced by the warm strings of the Boston Pops Orchestra. Botti’s trumpet is unhurried here — pure, simple lines that build a sacred, transcendent atmosphere.
When I Fall In Love
A romantic jazz standard. Botti begins with a tender melody, then shifts into a fiery improvisation section where each member of his sextet takes turns soloing — revealing the chemistry and energy of his touring band.
Seven Days (feat. Sting & Dominic Miller)
Sting arrives with his classic Seven Days, immediately lifting the room. Sting’s voice and Botti’s trumpet intertwine, with Dominic Miller’s guitar weaving through the spaces — a perfect meeting of pop songcraft and jazz spontaneity.
Emmanuel (feat. Lucia Micarelli)
Violinist Lucia Micarelli’s solo is perhaps the most heartbreaking moment of the entire concert. Michel Colombier’s piece builds from whispered beginnings to a sweeping climax, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Arrangement.
I’ve Got You Under My Skin (feat. Katharine McPhee)
Katharine McPhee reimagines Cole Porter’s standard with a contemporary pop sensibility, and Botti’s improvisational responses are playful and joyful — a delightful musical conversation.
Cinema Paradiso (feat. Yo-Yo Ma)
The dream pairing of the night: Chris Botti’s trumpet and Yo-Yo Ma’s cello in dialogue over Ennio Morricone’s timeless melody. The warmth of the trumpet and the depth of the cello achieve perfect equilibrium in this piece about memory and nostalgia.
Broken Vow (feat. Josh Groban)
Josh Groban’s rich voice brings new life to this Lara Fabian classic. Botti’s weeping trumpet fills in the spaces between vocal phrases, creating a deeply moving dialogue.
Flamenco Sketches
A tribute to Miles Davis, whose modal jazz classic is reimagined with orchestral arrangements. Botti preserves the original’s loose structure and atmospheric quality while adding his own warm tonal signature.
Glad To Be Unhappy (feat. John Mayer)
John Mayer makes a surprising appearance as a pure jazz vocalist on this Rodgers & Hart standard. Known for pop and rock, he reveals an unexpected gift for jazz interpretation.
Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen’s immortal song, rendered as a spare, heartfelt trumpet solo. No flashy technique, only pure emotion — which is precisely what makes Botti’s playing so compelling.
Smile (feat. Steven Tyler)
Steven Tyler’s entrance changes the room’s energy. He first roars through Aerosmith’s Cryin’, then surprises everyone with Charlie Chaplin’s Smile — revealing the tender side of a hard-rock legend.
If I Ever Lose My Faith In You (feat. Sting & Dominic Miller)
Sting returns for this second appearance, performing his classic with Botti. It sets the stage for the evening’s finale — Sting performing two songs back to back, a testament to his deep friendship with the trumpeter.
Time to Say Goodbye
The closing piece: a solo trumpet and orchestra version. No operatic tenor, no chorus — just Botti’s unadorned horn. In this farewell song, his trumpet speaks with more penetrating power than any human voice could muster.
Listening Notes
If you discovered Chris Botti through his live performances in Taipei’s National Concert Hall — this album will take you back to that night. If you haven’t heard him yet — start here, because it encompasses the full spectrum of his musical identity: jazz, classical, pop, and film music, each facet on display. This is a live album with no dull moments — a beautiful testament to how genre boundaries dissolve when music is made this well.
About the Performer
American trumpeter (1962–), dubbed the 'most handsome man in jazz,' a crossover artist spanning jazz, classical, and pop. Multiple Grammy nominee with over four million albums sold worldwide, known for his warm, lyrical tone and high-profile collaborations.
English musician and singer-songwriter (1951–), frontman of The Police, winner of seventeen Grammy Awards.
French-American cellist (1955–), winner of eighteen Grammy Awards, renowned for his broad repertoire spanning classical, folk, and world music.
American singer (1981–), known for his warm baritone voice and pop-classical crossover style, with over thirty million records sold worldwide.
American singer-songwriter (1977–), seven-time Grammy winner, known for blending pop, rock, and blues.
American rock singer (1948–), lead vocalist of Aerosmith, famous for his wild stage presence and raspy, high-pitched voice.
American violinist (1983–), classically trained crossover artist who has performed with Josh Groban and Chris Botti.
American singer and actress (1984–), runner-up on American Idol season five, active on Broadway and television.
Founded in 1885, renowned for light classical and popular concerts, led by conductors including Arthur Fiedler and John Williams.
About the Composer
Austrian composer (1797–1828), a towering figure of early Romanticism.
American composer (1900–1956), known for film scores and popular standards.
English singer-songwriter (1951–), frontman of The Police, winner of seventeen Grammy Awards.
French composer (1939–2004), master of film and television scores.
American composer and lyricist (1891–1964), a defining figure of the golden age of Broadway and Hollywood.
Italian composer (1928–2020), one of the greatest film music composers of the twentieth century, known for Cinema Paradiso, The Mission, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
American record producer and composer (1958–), long-time collaborator with Mariah Carey, winner of the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year.
American jazz trumpeter and composer (1926–1991), one of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century.
American composer (1902–1979), a defining figure of Broadway's golden age.
American lyricist (1895–1943), who partnered with Richard Rodgers to create countless Broadway classics.
Canadian singer-songwriter and poet (1934–2016), whose song Hallelujah is one of the most-covered songs in history.
English actor, filmmaker, and composer (1889–1977), who wrote and composed the music for Smile.
Italian composer, co-writer of Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò).
Taiwan Performance History
Chris Botti has performed in Taiwan multiple times, most recently in May 2025 at the National Concert Hall in Taipei and the Tainan Cultural Center as part of the LEXUS Jazz Night series. He also toured Taiwan in March 2024 and 2023, with all shows sold out.