Special to the
Opelika Observer
The Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University is pleased to announce the addition of Grammy Award-winning jazz and pop trumpeter Chris Botti to its star-studded 2019–20 inaugural season lineup.
Botti, who will play the Gogue Center Oct. 18, is a master instrumentalist and composer who has amassed multiple gold and platinum-certified albums throughout his three-decade career. Since the release of his 2004 critically acclaimed album, “When I Fall in Love,” Botti has become the largest-selling American instrumental artist, with sales of more than four million albums worldwide.
“We are ecstatic to present a musician of Chris’s caliber and renown as part of our inaugural season,” said Gogue Center executive director Christopher Heacox. “His talent and passion shine through in every performance; he has toured and performed around the world with some of the biggest names in music.”
Botti’s collaborations include a stunning array of luminaries, from Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett to Yo-Yo Ma and Lady Gaga. During the years, he has toured extensively with Sting—one of his major personal influences—and shared the stage with Frank Sinatra on some of the legendary crooner’s final concert appearances. Botti served as a member of Paul Simon’s touring band for several years during the 1990s, first joining Simon for the Born at the Right Time tour. Botti can be seen in the concert footage of the 1991 “Concert in the Park” and is credited as trumpet player for the live album.
“Botti’s resume as a touring musician is unparalleled,” Heacox said. “In his live performances, you see the technical brilliance and sensitivity that has brought him so many rightfully earned accolades in the industry.
Botti has released 10 studio albums since 1995, the last four of which have topped the U.S. jazz charts. He has received four Grammy nominations and won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Album for his 2013 release, “Impressions,” an album featuring appearances by Andrea Bocelli, Vince Gill, Herbie Hancock, Mark Knopfler and David Foster.
Botti will perform as part of the Gogue Center’s inaugural season Jazz series, which also features performances by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (March 26, 2020) and the Alfredo Rodríguez and Pedrito Martinez Duo (April 7, 2020). His appearance replaces the previously scheduled performance of Blue Note Records 80th Birthday Celebration featuring Kandace Springs, the James Carter Organ Trio and James Francies.
The performance was canceled due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict.
No additional performances or dates in the Jazz series have been affected. Subscribers who have already purchased season and/or Jazz series subscriptions will retain all tickets and seats as previously selected.
To purchase season and series subscriptions, visit goguecenter.auburn.edu or call 334.844.TIXS (8497).