This was even better than Chris' amazing performance a year ago. He simply can play the trumpet with such sounds like few could ever duplicate. His mix of the American Songbook and Jazz is very pleasant to the ears. He has surrounded himself with the best musicians. Billy Childs is a great pianist. Mark Whitfield is simply amazing on the guitar and Billy Kilson can play drums like no one else in a long, long time. These musicians deserve all of the Grammys they have won and probably more.
Also, the two guests were extraordinarily great. One, whose name I have unfortunately forgotten, had a vocal range of many octaves. She was great. The other, is the incredible violinist, Lucia Micarelli. She brought tears to my wife's and my eyes when she accompanied Chris on the hauntingly gorgeous "Emmanuel." It is the greatest piece of violin playing that I have ever heard. We own several CDs of Botti's and his performance last Friday night clearly shows why.