Chris Botti plays with Boston Pops, pop stars
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NEW YORK—Chris Botti has a few surprises up his trumpet when he makes his debut with the Boston Pops this week at two concerts that are being taped for national broadcast next spring during PBS' annual pledge drive.
The chart-topping trumpeter has enlisted a star-studded lineup for the Thursday and Friday night concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall that reflect his genre-bending musical tastes from jazz and classical to rock and pop.
His touring band -- with such jazz stalwarts as pianist Billy Childs, drummer Billy Kilson and guitarist Mark Whitfield -- will be joined by Sting and his longtime guitarist Dominic Miller; Josh Groban; Aerosmith's Steven Tyler; "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee; cellist Yo-Yo Ma; violinist Lucia Micarelli; and a major pop vocal star who will make an unannounced surprise appearance.
"We're going from classical music to jazz stuff from Miles Davis' catalog to rock 'n' roll all within the span of a very, very short time with really legendary people," Botti said in a telephone interview Monday from Boston.
"I don't want to give away what they're doing because a couple of them are big-time surprises.... The real fun stuff is taking these artists out of the arena that they're normally heard in. It will be like, oh my goodness, I can't believe I just heard Steven Tyler or Yo-Yo Ma do that."
Botti plans to perform some songs by Sting, who showcased the trumpeter for two years on his "Brand New Day" tour, as well as selections from his own recent Grammy-nominated album "Italia." Botti and Ma will perform music from "Cinema Paradiso," reflecting their shared passion for Italian composer Ennio Morricone's film music.
The two-night program is planned as a follow-up to the trumpeter's surprisingly successful first PBS special, "Chris Botti Live With Orchestra and Special Guests," which was recorded in December 2005 at Los Angeles' Wilshire Theater.
Botti says his second PBS special will have a much more "cinematic scope" because having a world-class orchestra behind him will enable him to perform more of the classical-influenced pieces from his repertoire in the best possible setting.
"It's like driving a Ferrari I suppose," Botti said, referring to performing with conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops. "This particular project is something that not even in my recent wildest dreams I could have imagined happening."
Botti decided to record the special in Boston to show his appreciation for WGBH, which is co-sponsoring the concert. WGBH was the first PBS station to take a chance on broadcasting his Los Angeles concert and then encouraged other affiliates to air the special. Botti is planning to tour PBS affiliates in March to support the pledge drive.
"The musicians like Sting or Steven Tyler are all doing it for nothing. ... These guys are doing it for the music," said Botti. "The real reason we're doing it is to support PBS and try to get music on television which television normally doesn't cater to apart from rock `n' roll and pop."
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