Legendary jazz trumpeter Chris Botti to play Hoyt Sherman Place Saturday
Chris Botti, one of this era’s most popular instrumentalists across both the jazz and pop music spectrums, will bring his trumpet and talents to Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines this Saturday night to give central Iowans a glimpse of true greatness.
The Grammy-Award winning Botti, whose resume includes collaborations over the years with the likes of Sting, Paul Simon, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Steven Tyler, Andrea Bocelli and dozens of other A-list artists, will take the stage at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are available online or at the Hoyt Sherman Place box office.
ListenIowa caught up with Botti prior to the show to talk about working with some of the best in the world, how he convinced a world-famous producer to come out of retirement, and what to expect this Saturday night.
LI: You’ve worked with some of the greats, obviously, but who, in your mind, stands out?
Chris Botti: The longest lasting one is still ongoing, and that’s my relationship with Sting. He took my trumpet playing visibility from being just someone in a side band. He’s pulled a lot of strings for me along the way, so it’s not like being in that side band anymore. He gave me a musical visibility that allowed me to do so many things. To this day, we remain close. Almost family-like. That alone, kind of trumps everything. All the artists, they are super unique, and you can pick things up. Paul Simon gave me an appetite for wanting to go on the road, which is a skillset on its own. A lot of musicians, they just don’t want to tour as relentlessly. But I got hooked on it during that two-year tour with him.
LI: It sounds as though you don’t mind being in the spotlight, obviously. How do you deal with people recognizing you, then, when you’re out and about, be it in a restaurant or wherever?
Chris Botti: It’s super wonderful. I’m not one of those guys like Howard Stern or Steven Tyler who can’t get away from their physical characteristics. People who know me are real fans; it’s not just pop culture stuff. I fly under the vast amount of the radar, but when I do get recognized whether it’s an airplane or restaurant or whatever, it’s super flattering. I understand when you’re in that really large pop culture thing, though, and you’re getting harassed. I have no idea what that must be like, but when people come up to me and know my music, which is such a niche style, I feel super flattered and very lucky. Jazz musicians, if you’re well known, you might be playing at a jazz festival in New York or Montreal or Newport. But to be able to go to a place like Des Moines or Pittsburgh or Jacksonville, that takes that kind of crossover fame, and you just have to be thankful to be able to do that. And I am.
LI: Most recently, in 2023, you released “Vol. 1,” which was very well received. How did you convince famed producer David Foster to come out of retirement to help you with that project?
Chris Botti: Well, we went out to dinner and I said, “David, I’d love for you to take a crack at doing this record.” And he goes, “First of all, Chris, I’m retired. Second, I’m not really a jazz musician.” But I told him that he had the ability to recognize the large picture and that musicians will play different with him watching over them. I told him I thought he’d be great at making a lifestyle type of record. Then he goes, “OK. I haven’t done a record in six years, but I will come out of retirement for you.” (laughs) I loved doing that record with him.
LI: You two going to team up for a “Vol. 2” and keep things going?
Chris Botti: I know I’m doing a record for “Vol. 2” but I don’t know if David will be involved. He’s got a lot on his plate with a Broadway show debuting next month and another one in the works, and is touring. But I’m sure we’ll have a conversation about things at some point.
LI: You’re in your early 60s at this point but seem to still love being on the road. Do you see yourself slowing down at any point?
Chris Botti: The trumpet is an unrelenting mistress. It doesn’t really care how you’re feeling. You have to pay attention to it and practice it. My relationship with the horn, physically, will dictate when I will stop. I’m very happy touring, and feel very blessed to be able to do so. I just want to keep doing that. I don’t tour so I can have time off, I weather the time off so I can get back on the road. I’m not pining to get off the road anytime soon, but at a certain point, it’s like an athlete. Suddenly you’re two steps slow and people start Tweeting to the promoter that the show was kind of slow. (laughs) I’ll have to see how things will roll out, but I hope this continues for many more years.
LI: So what can we expect Saturday night at the show?
Chris Botti: So this is always the most tricky question for me to answer. If you bought tickets to U2, you’re pretty much sure that you’re going to see the four Irish musicians onstage and hear “Where the Streets Have No Name” and close approximations of all their music. Anyone who has purchased my records, if you’re expecting to see a duplication of the record, it’s completely the opposite. There’s a live show, and then there’s the album. For the live show, I want everyone to have a dreamy, relaxed approach. Yes, we do all that stuff that tugs on your emotional heartstrings, but I’m rolling in there with a band comprised of the best pianist, drummer, and violinist in the world. They’re showcased in such a way that if you’re a fan of any type of music, be it pop, rock or jazz, this thing is on such a high level that it’s hard to put into words. It happens every time. People come up to me after a show and say, “Man, I didn’t know what to expect, but this blew me away, and I’m going to be coming to your shows all the time now.” Or they’ll say, “This is our 17th show!” I would say that if you have any inkling of wanting to see great musicianship on one stage — and not just me on the trumpet — take a chance.
Chris Botti
Saturday, March 8, 7:30 p.m.
Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines
