Chris Botti and Friends - 'Night Sessions: Live In Concert' Set For Release On DVD on Tuesday, August 6

Surprise Guests Sting and Shawn Colvin Enhance The Evening's Magic

PRNewswire
NEW YORK
06/25/2002

Columbia Records is set to release "Night Sessions: Live In Concert," the DVD featuring Chris Botti & Friends on August 6, 2002. Botti's star-studded performance -- featuring Sting and Shawn Colvin -- was taped live at the historic El Rey Theater in Los Angeles in November 2001 for air on DIRECTV.

Performances on Chris Botti & Friends' "Night Sessions: Live In Concert" include: "Lisa," "Streets Ahead," "Miami Overnight," "Steps Of Positano," "Alone In the City," "Regrooveable," "Easter Parade," "Why Not" and "Blue Horizon." Shawn Colvin is featured on the Sting-penned "All Would Envy" and her original "The Facts About Jimmy." Sting performs "In The Wee Small Hours" and "Moon Over Bourbon Street."

Additional DVD special features include a Photo Gallery, and interviews with Chris Botti, Sting and Shawn Colvin.

"Sting's performance was spectacular and Shawn's contribution was sensational creating a night of musical magic. I've been fortunate to have played with some fantastic performers in recent years -- both on stage and on my albums, but this night stands among the most memorable," says the trumpeter.

The night was a critical success as well. LA TIMES Jazz critic, Don Heckman called Botti, "Visually charismatic, musically engaging and appealingly personable ... "

Phil Gallo's Daily Variety said, "Botti's greatest strength is his beautiful articulation and a trumpet style that grounds his generally atmospheric backing. He plays neither jazz nor rock -- Botti's a mood setter -- and his television show, if it reflects the running order of the concert, will showcase an artist capable of moving an audience by adjusting the timbres and tempos, not only song to song, but often within a single piece of music."

Botti performed material from the top-selling Night Sessions, his release on Columbia Records. The album, released on October 30, 2001, was written and recorded during a short break as featured soloist on Sting's Brand New Day tour and was produced by Grammy Award-winner Kipper. The collection is Botti's fourth solo album and is layered with sensual textures that compliment his pure trumpet tone and imaginative approach to melody.

Evoking the smoky, late night ambiance of Europe's Cafe Del Mar scene, Night Sessions also features guest vocalist Shawn Colvin, who lends her sultry voice to the previously unrecorded Sting original, "All Would Envy." The album reveals a distinguished cast of noteworthy players, including famed upright bassist Christian McBride, electric bassist Jimmy Johnson, drummers Vinnie Colaiuta and Abe Laboriel, Jr., and acoustic pianist Billy Childs.

Veteran to both the contemporary jazz world and mainstream concert scene, the blue-eyed Botti has worked with Joni Mitchell, Natalie Merchant, and renowned film composer John Barry, among others. Film critic Rex Reed has called him "the sexiest trumpeter since Chet Baker." Botti joined Paul Simon's band in 1990, where he remained for the next five years, and, in 1995, he recorded his solo debut, First Wish. After scoring the 1996 film Caught, Botti returned in 1997 with his second LP, Midnight Without You, which was followed by Slowing Down the World two years later.

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SOURCE: Columbia Records

CONTACT: Maria C. Malta of Columbia Records, +1-212-833-7942,
maria_malta@sonymusic.com; or Lindajo Loftus, +1-310-455-9181,
ljloftus@aol.com, or Kevin Chiarmonte, +1-212-582-5400,
kevinc@ksapublicity.com, both of KSA Public Relations

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://www.chrisbotti.com/