What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life? - Featuring Sting
My One And Only Love - Featuring Paula Cole
Let There Be Love - Featuring Michael Bublé
What's New?
Good Morning Heartache - Featuring Jill Scott
To Love Again
Are You Lonesome Tonight? - Featuring Paul Buchanan
Lover Man - Featuring Gladys Knight
I'll Be Seeing You - Featuring Billy Childs
Pennies From Heaven - Featuring Renee Olstead
Here's That Rainy Day - Featuring Rosa Passos
Smile - Featuring Steven Tyler
Somewhere, Kenny G is hiding behind his cascading ringlets in shame. Chris Botti, a jazz world super-talent whose trumpeting earns frequent comparisons to Miles Davis and Chet Baker, has found the formula for classing up t... more »he pop charts, and within it there's not a single soaring sax or tired attempt at career revivalism to be found. What we're treated to instead is an all-star lineup (Sting, Gladys Knight, Michael Buble and others) vocally saluting a musician whose resume reads like a page torn out of the Rock Snob's Dictionary: in addition to touring with Sting, Botti has played sideman to Paul Simon, Natalie Merchant, Joni Mitchell, and dozens more. Here that experience pays off handsomely. Gone are the matinee-idol smooth artist's earlier experiments with jazz synthesizers and pop-fusion compositions (see 2002's Night Sessions for those), and present in their place are his classical instincts. Gil Evans might have been his guide as the unmistakable opener "Embraceable You," one of a handful of instrumental tracks, swirls into the enchanting, ultra-sophisticated "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life," for instance, and listeners need not feel like fogies for loving it. If Steven Tyler can sign on to sing along with a traditional arrangement of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" while the London Session Orchestra lays down its trademark jazz lushness behind him, after all, you can let down your guard long enough to admit this disc leaves you feeling vaguely dreamy. --Tammy La Gorce« less
Somewhere, Kenny G is hiding behind his cascading ringlets in shame. Chris Botti, a jazz world super-talent whose trumpeting earns frequent comparisons to Miles Davis and Chet Baker, has found the formula for classing up the pop charts, and within it there's not a single soaring sax or tired attempt at career revivalism to be found. What we're treated to instead is an all-star lineup (Sting, Gladys Knight, Michael Buble and others) vocally saluting a musician whose resume reads like a page torn out of the Rock Snob's Dictionary: in addition to touring with Sting, Botti has played sideman to Paul Simon, Natalie Merchant, Joni Mitchell, and dozens more. Here that experience pays off handsomely. Gone are the matinee-idol smooth artist's earlier experiments with jazz synthesizers and pop-fusion compositions (see 2002's Night Sessions for those), and present in their place are his classical instincts. Gil Evans might have been his guide as the unmistakable opener "Embraceable You," one of a handful of instrumental tracks, swirls into the enchanting, ultra-sophisticated "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life," for instance, and listeners need not feel like fogies for loving it. If Steven Tyler can sign on to sing along with a traditional arrangement of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" while the London Session Orchestra lays down its trademark jazz lushness behind him, after all, you can let down your guard long enough to admit this disc leaves you feeling vaguely dreamy. --Tammy La Gorce
Loretta D. (femmefatale) from PHILADELPHIA, PA Reviewed on 6/27/2007...
Chris Botti, a jazz world super-talent whose trumpeting earns frequent comparisons to Miles Davis and Chet Baker, has found the formula for classing up the pop charts, and within it there's not a single soaring sax or tired attempt at career revivalism to be found. What we're treated to instead is an all-star lineup (Sting, Gladys Knight, Michael Buble and others). Gil Evans might have been his guide as the unmistakable opener "Embraceable You," one of a handful of instrumental tracks, swirls into the enchanting, ultra-sophisticated "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life."
CD Reviews
Hauntingly Beautiful!
Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* | CA USA | 10/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Chris Botti, a trumpeter-extraordinaire, has done it again after the success of "When I Fall In Love," my top favorite of all his albums which to date is #4 on Billboard Top 25 Albums. "To Love Again" is nothing but one of the best recordings of all-time. The CD Audio Side features Mr. Botti's thirteen attention-grabbing performances with his guest artists - Sting, Michael Bublé, Paula Cole, Gladys Knight, Jill Scott, Renee Olstead, Rosa Passos and Steven Tyler, with the London Session Orchestra conducted by Jeremy Lubbock, Billy Childs and Gil Goldstein.
The DVD Side showcases the entire CD tracks and four fabulous live performances and these are: "Flamenco Sketches" with guest saxophonist David Sanborn, "To Love Again," "I'll Be Seeing You" and "Milestones." The live performers include Billy Childs (piano), Anthony Wilson (guitar), Billy Kilson (drums) and Robert Hurst (bass). It's so nice to watch him on this DVD and see before your eyes how good he really is in his craft. He could well be in the league of the greatest trumpet players of all-time.
His most impressive trumpet virtuosity can be heard in his spellbinding renditions of all-instrumental-tracks from the repertoire: George and Ira Gershwin's "Embraceable You," the title track "To Love Again," "I'll Be Seeing You," which features Billy Childs on piano, and "What's New?" These beautiful works of art call for your welcoming ears and undivided attention to perfectly capture their charms!
Paula Cole, a Grammy awardee for the Best New Artist in 1998, steals the limelight with her emotionally-charged and superb vocals on "My One And Only Love," making it my new favorite version of this great song arranged by one of my favorite arrangers of all-time, Jeremy Lubbock. Sting shines with his outstanding rendition of one of the most beautiful compositions of the Bergmans and Legrand, "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?" His vocal artistry is just impeccable. I remember going round the bend over his version of "My One And Only Love" some years ago. It is still one of the most beautiful versions ever recorded.
Never to be outshined is Michael Bublé's refreshing take on "Let There Be Love," with fabulous arrangements by Gil Goldstein. Paul Buchanan's version of Elvis Presley's signature song "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" is so moving . . .
"Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Does your memory stray to a bright summer day?
. . . Is your heart filled with pain?"
On "Good Morning Heartache," Jill Scott is trying hard to make "heartache go away, get a job and leave her alone!" Gladys Knight sings "Lover Man" soulfully and coming from the heart.
The rest of the tracks are remarkable renditions of "Pennies From Heaven" by Renee Olstead, "Here's That Rainy Day" by Rosa Passos, and Steven Tyler's most heartfelt and moving treatment of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile," one of the most beautiful and uplifting songs of all-time.
"Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky you'll get by
If you smile through your fears and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear maybe ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll . . . just smile."
This is truly one of my favorite works of art - it's hauntingly beautiful!
Thank you so much, Mr. Botti, for sharing your outstanding gift of music to the world. You are simply one of the best things that ever happened to jazz music!
Deserves my highest recommendation!
* * * * * TEN STARS * * * * *"
Delightful but watch out!
K. Daily | 11/01/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I pre-ordered this CD and when it was delivered I immediately tried to download it into ITunes and my IPOD. My computer could not read it and on the back in small small letters was the warning. Some computers may not be able to play this CD!! I am mad that this was not brought to my attention before I paid for it. I now have a CD that I can only play in my car.
"
'To Love Again' is right on time
Sherman L. Dantzler | Grand Blanc, MI United States | 03/14/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is my sixth Chris Botti CD and it was a change of pace that seems to be right on time. With the duets trend hitting the charts the past few years (Kenny G, Herbie Hancock, Ray Charles and Jim Brickman to name a few) one has to wonder if we are starting duet overkill. So I listened as Sting, Gladys Knight, Paula Cole and Michael Buble' make another contribution to a duet CD. But once again their work was very good and different from the other efforts. Then add young talented Renee Olstead and Jill Scott showing some veteran like 'jazz pizzazz' and the project comes off as poetry of pleasantry. The album picks up where Chris left off on his previous project 'When I Fall in Love', so it is only fitting that this one would be entitled 'To Love Again'. 'Good Morning Heartache' which seems to get most of the Radio air time brings out a Jill Scott that I never knew. The non-vocal cuts show the versatility and Miles Davis like talent Chris possesses. The mellowness and range of `Embraceable You' definitely highlights his skill with notes. For easy listening or just entertaining friends with soft background sounds `To Love Again' is right on time. ~the JazzeOne"
Chris Botti is "Dave Sanborn+Rick Braun"
E. N. Cushenberry | United States | 08/24/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I now own three (3)Chris Botti CDs: When I Fall in Love; To Fall in Love and Midnight Without you.
I will say this: No, Chris Botti is neither Miles Davis nor Wynton Marsalis! He is neither of their stature nor in their class. And, he knows this!
The truth is that when his fans compare Chris to these true Jazz Greats, it becomes way too easy to dismiss Chris as a young and much less talented "wanna be!" Thus, these comparisons are fundamentally unfair to Chris. So, stop the madness!
The real truth is that Chris Botti is a wonderful musician in his own right, in his own class, and he has his own style.
His choices of vocalists are wonderful! Sting and Jill Scott and Paula Coles just seem to belong on his CDs!
I appreciate Chris and enjoy what he is now contributing to the field of 21st Century Music!"
Passable
William W. Miller | Sparks, NV United States | 11/29/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I am a Chris Botti fan and despite this album continue to be. Recently saw him in person and thought he put on an excellent show. Dynamite female vocalist with the band. But this was one too many album of standards played in a pretty standard fashion. Good in it's own right, I suspect, but not much jazz to it. The dual disc actually has a couple of tunes that are not included in the regular CD, that are much more in the jazz idiom that I thought were quite good and I'd recommend. Just would have much rather had a whole album of those, rather than what was served up here.