Italia

He is one of the great horn players living or dead. I could listen day after day.

Being a closit trumpet player myself, this kid makes me wish I'd studied harder. Classy hornblower.

This CD is seductive, romantic, beautiful and timeless. I was a fan of Chris Botti before, but now I'm a disciple.

My husband and I saw Chris Botti last weekend in Temecula, CA. He and his band delivery high quality entertainment. Catch them in person whenever you can. As for Italia, we just finished listening to this album for the third time -- in 3 hours. It is beautiful and moving. Nessum Dorma alone is worth the price.

I love every Chris Botti CD I have and this one may be my favorite. I wouldn't have thought I'd like Nessun Dorma on a trumpet...
or Gabriel's Oboe (from the soundtrack of The Mission), but it brings tears to my eyes.

I'm fairly new to Chris Botti's music but am rapidly becoming a big fan. This CD is no exception. Every track on the CD has something to recommend it, but my particular favorites are "Venice" and the title track with a fabulous and haunting vocal accompaniment by Andrea Bocelli. Beyond those two cuts and two others (Ave Maria and Estate'), however, there's not much here in common with the Italian-themed title of the CD. I would also note that Paula Cole's vocals on track 4 (The Very Thought of You) sound rather muffled at the beginning of the song, but this is production issue that doesn't otherwise detract from the quality of piece.

The titular misnomer aside, I found the rather eclectic range of styles (and multiple covers) maybe a little distracting. Offerings go from the crooning of Dean Martin (I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face), to the more typical Botti smooth jazz (The Way You Look Tonight), to Andrea Bocelli (Italia), to the higher sound of the Ave Maria (which is a mixture of church oratorio and Botti's trumpet). In spite of this rather unique blending of styles, though, I am generally very pleased with this CD and would gladly recommend it for your listening pleasure.

This CD is amazing, so well done...love the title track with Andrea Bocelli even though I have no clue what he is singing about...after a day at work, I slip this CD into my car's CD player and my frustrations melt away...lovely, lovely music...

ItaliaWhen I Fall in Love
Both of these CD's offer beautiful instrumental music. Very classy sound. I enjoy listening to this talented jazz artist.

I don't think I could add much to the other reviews except to say this: I listen to this CD every day! For me, that's saying a lot!

This a exciting fusion of Itlain influence and jazz. Melodic, great to listen to any time of the day

I love this CD! After hearing it I bought 2 others. Italia is a blend of haunting and sultry songs. A great CD to fall in love to! Botti fans will not be disappointed.

Everything I expected. It's a great piece of work and well worth the two month wait to receive it!

I enjoy Chris Botti's music enough that I purchased this CD and When I fall in Love. Both are enjoyable and pleasing to the ear.

From the first note to the last, this is one of those CD's that stand out from the all rest. Absolutely, a top favorite of mine and I have several hundred. Andrea Bocelli adds to the magic as well as Paula Cole and Dean Martin. The Ave Maria is the most beautiful rendition I have ever heard; stop everything, sit down, close your eyes and listen.

i always enjoy this artist! his music is so smooth, and this cd is no exception!

Chris Botti is one of those musicians who brings peace to your life through his music. You won't find a more relaxing sound from a trumpet as you do from his. This album is a must have!

Every new CD of his I get is even better than the last. A real talent. Provides hours of relaxing music. Highly recommended

This is a wonderful album... love the contributing artists pieces. One feels that you are in Italy for a few wonderful moments. I would recommend this CD...actually have done so already! Great work Mr. Botti!

This disc epitomizes everything I hate about classical and jazz crossover. It borrows from the same tired formula: take a photogenic artist, slap together a comfort-food track list, and put it on the market.

Someone gave this to me as a birthday gift. Now, I'm saddled with having to keep this dog of an album around, lest I hurt their feelings. Damn...

P.S.- Since when is the word "estate" written with an accent over the final vowel? How amateur!

This is a fantastic cd which captures Chris Botti's fantastic talent. I am so glad that I purchased this.

My wife and I first discovered Chris on a Windham Hill recording of 'Bach' pieces by various artists in which he played an Andante from sonata #2 in Am, which was inredible! His touch and interpretation is from beyond! We have seen/heard him in concert and then on cd's backing greats like Aaron Neville...every time...in the pocket!

Great Cd. It came quickly and in time to surprise my wife for Christmas.

Being a fan of Chris Botti's already, I was not disappointed. And being of Italian heritage I was moved by the loveliness of the selections and of the original pieces by Chris Botti. The additions of Andrea Bocelli and Paula Cole were real plusses. I bought two more CD's as gifts, and a friend heard mine and bought one for a gift for a friend of his. There seems to be a little bit of Chet Baker in Chet Botti's horn, to me. This is a beautiful CD, worth having in one's collection. I rated this 5 FIVE star and can't get the rating to change from a two-bummer!

I am new to Chris Botti. However, his new CD Italia is impressive. It's moody, from the opening few notes that takes you to an ethereal, soft, and whimsical place, to an impressive overdubbing of his dynamic playing set to an old original Dean Martin swing tune (with Martin singing), this is a keeper. I will definitely look into other CDs in the Botti collection!

Musically, this is a superb work.

Conceptually, if you sit around and think about it too long, you'll go nuts. Why title the album "Italia" if you're going to include songs like "The Way You Look Tonight" or "It Never Entered My Mind," much less Paula Cole singing "The Very Thought of You" and (O.M.G.) Dean Martin singing "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face"(Come 'ome, 'enry 'iggins!).

(Mind you, based on her collaborations with Botti, if Paula Cole turns out a standards album, I'm gonna be the first on my continent to pre-order it.)

That said, I still give it 4 stars because so many of the other cuts are stellar... including "Nessun Dorma", "Estaté", and the two Ennio Morricone compositions, "Gabriel's Oboe"and "Deborah's Theme."

Thank God for iPod!

Fantastic! A must have for all his fans and even those who aren't. GREAT!

I enjoy Chris Bottis' new CD very much.. His style of trumpet playing is so relaxing & entertaining..

Chris Botti's music is so soothing. I would not have discovered him if it were not for feedback from other Amazon shoppers. He is a trumpet player that is not too bluesy. Whenever I press play on my CD player I instantly go into relaxation mode. Another great CD from this artist!

Chris Botti is very talented and produces wonderful mellow sounds!!
I start my day listening to him instead of all the news and politics!
Thank you Chris!!

I bought this for my mom for Christmas and she loves it! Listens to it all the time!

Nice combination of vocals and solos--really flows well and he does the best version of Ave Maria I've ever heard. The Dean Martin song was a nice surprise--very smooth. One of my favorite CDs.

This is a wonderful way to spend an evening. What a great cd. Try December too, it's wonderful for the holidays.

I'm a huge Chris Botti fan and this is an awesome CD. I love every single song on it. Also, the service from Amazon was very good. I received my order very quickly. Over all I'm very satisfied with the whole experience.

Blanca

Great vocal music and instrumental music. I have enjoyed this CD immensely. Highly recommend it.

I have several Chris Botti albums. This is an interesting mix with an italian theme. I enjoy it more each time I listen to it. I could listen to Botti all day long. He is the master of the horn.

Italia is pure sap. when i saw Botti last he did some great jazz numbers and he also drifted into this sap pap pop poop. i was very sad. he is such a great talent. for him to stoop to this pop level makes me want to cry for a wasted talent. i can see where this is going. next thing you know he will do an lp called Brazilia, then Spania, and on and on it will go. he will make millions. and that great talent wasted forever. i hope i am wrong. i hope he finally puts out a great jazz lp. he claims that miles is his mentor. miles would never stoop this low to play this crud anyone can play. elevator music for the hearing impaired. duets with bad singers. very disappointing. I just can't believe how low he has gone with this cd. i listen to something like December or A Thousand Kisses Deep and hear vast potential. with Italia i see a vast wasteland paved with greenbacks. pity. it reminds me of when chuck magione went in this similar direction, and where is he now? a footnote. you get these geniuses like chuck, or Herbie Hancock, and then they go off into la la land with their bank vault open. where are they now? in obscurity. then you look at someone who kept their integrity such as Oscar Peterson and you admire them even more for sticking with their gift and delivering continuing genius work one after the other late in life. I had so much hope with Botti. now he is just another Madison Avenue ad man. sigh. there is not one single song on this Italia that rates above pure sappy.

Do not buy this. Buy When I Fall in Love instead. Chris sounds flat. It's hard to describe, but this CD really is not his best. I love to see Chris perform live and go to every concert of his when in town. This one really missed the mark of excellence for me. I look forward to his next CD.

The music is lovely and stimulating. This is not background music but music to refect with as well to just listen to. I like this cd as much as When I fall In Love.

After receiving an autographed copy of Chris Botti's "Italia" as a gift, I was so thrilled with its content that I purchased another for a friend and suggested to another. It is a fine "sampler" of the kind of music Chris is doing and I believe that both "new" and "old" jazz/standard fans would enjoy. Bravo!

Love this CD! He's awesome and so is Paula Cole who is featured on this CD, too. I will probably buy her CD's, also! Don't miss buying this one! Sultry and romantic sounding music. You're gonna love it!

Sony Records presents "ITALIA" --- Prolific trumpeter Chris Botti has personified Italy through his latest release, "Italia" --- Employing outstanding singers Andrea Bocelli, Paula Cole and a posthumous duet with Dean Martin --- the result is truly extraordinary --- On September 25, 2007, Botti released his new album "Italia" --- The album places focus on Botti's Italian roots through such songs as "Ave Maria", "Venice", "Estatè", and the title track "Italia".

Special Footnote, Christopher Botti or Chris Botti (born October 12, 1962) is a trumpeter and composer; born in Portland, Oregon and raised in Corvallis, and spent two years of his childhood growing up in Italy --- His earliest musical influence was his mother, a classically trained pianist and part-time piano teacher --- He plays a Martin Committee Handcraft trumpet made in 1940, and uses a 3 silver plated mouthpiece from Bach made in 1926, having recently retired his 1920 3C Bach mouthpiece --- In college, Botti studied under David Baker and Bill Adam at Indiana University --- As of 2006, Botti has recorded eight solo albums --- His first few efforts could safely be classified as smooth jazz, though critic Alex Henderson argues that Botti's music was a cut above much of the genre; reviewing his 1999 effort, Slowing Down the World, Henderson writes "it would be a major mistake to lump it in with the outright elevator muzak that Kenny G, Dave Koz, Najee, and Richard Elliot were known for ... Botti is capable of a lot more." --- Though still featuring heavy contributions from pop music singers, Botti's more recent albums have found him exploring more traditional jazz territory, with lush orchestral arrangements even earning comparisons to Gil Evans. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Italia - (Track Listings)

1 Once Upon a Time in America/Deborah's Theme [2:51]
2 Italia - featuring Andrea Bocelli [5:34]
3 Venice [4:31]
4 The Very Thought of You - featuring Paula Cole [4:53]
5 The Mission/Gabriel's Oboe [4:16]
6 I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face - featuring Dean Martin [3:10]
7 Caruso [3:59]
8 The Way You Look Tonight [4:16]
9 It Never Entered My Mind [4:53]
10 Ave Maria [5:46]
11 Estaté [4:06]
12 Turandot/Nessun Dorma [3:50]

Hats off to Sony Records --- strongly recommend this CD to all music lovers and others who need to hear some great classical, Jazz and American Standards --- Chris Botti, please stand up and take a bow for this well deserved rare gem you've given us --- this is a keeper!

Total Time: 73 mins on 16 Tracks ~ Sony Records ~ (9/25/2007)

Chris Botti's CD, "Italia," contains some compositions by my favorite film composer, Ennio Morricone. What a pleasant surprise. I never fathomed such a magnificent performance of classical adagios could come from a trumpet -- a brass instrument. Botti's interpretation of Morricone's "Deborah" is the most tender and soulful rendition I have heard of this work. This includes the interpretation of world-renowned cellist, Yo-Yo Ma, who recorded "Deborah" under the composer's own direction. I play "Italia" over and over again. It is singularly the most enjoyable CD I have heard to date. Most CD's have one or two good cuts with 18 (or more) really bad cuts. I stopped buying CDs for this very reason. This isn't the case with "Italia." It is a compilation of back-to-back perfect performances.

I adore Chris Botti, and Italia is great. I was lucky enough to see him perform at, of all places, the Mid State Fair in Paso Robles, CA this summer, it was a fabulous show.

In the rack that holds my CD's, 'Italia' is in the same row as the ones I own by Miles Davis...right where they should be. Beautiful CD masterfully done.

Absolutely wonderful CD with beautiful, soulful songs. Pour a glass of wine & listen to this one all the way through. You won't be disappointed!

I heard Chris Botti say at a recent concert, that it had taken him 40 yrs to learn to play the trumpet. Well, nobody plays it better today and Italia is "delicious" to listen to. The choice of music, his playing and the vocalists are all top notch. A fabulous addition to anyone's music library!

Playback «Italia» and relax. Beautiful soft music for easy listening. Chris Botti is my favorite living trumpeter. Columbia is quite right in offering Chris to record everything he wants and whenever he wants.

Excellent album. Do not hesitate to see Chris Botti perform live. It's a great show with excellent musicianship and the best drummer I've ever seen.

With Italia, Chris Botti has once again delivered a lushly orchestrated album of astonishing beauty, full of memorable, breath-taking performances. He not only proves there's wisdom in the old adage, if it ain't broke, don't fix it - but instead of resting simply on his laurels, with each successive album he's succeeded in making his "formula" of richly orchestrated, romantic standards better. Where To Love Again focused on duets, Italia focuses on Botti's trumpet playing with only a handful of vocal tracks (similar to his break-out album, When I Fall In Love). The inspiration of the album is, of course, the music of Italy, and in keeping with that theme Botti interprets two compositions by master film composer Ennio Morricone - the hauntingly beautiful "Deborah's Theme" from Once Upon a Time in America and "Gabriel's Oboe" from The Mission. The lushly orchestrated, David Foster-penned "Italia" pairs Botti with one of contemporary Italy's most famous voices, Andrea Bocelli. "Estaté" is Botti's gorgeous solo version of the track that he accompanied Bocelli on for the tenor's Andrea Bocelli: Under the Desert Sky [DVD Included] project. Three of the tracks on Italia mine the realm of classic popular song, evocative of Italy because of their close association with interpretations by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. "The Very Thought of You" is a sublime duet with Paula Cole - her voice, featured on When I Fall In Love and To Love Again, once again proves to be an ideal complement to Botti's trumpet. With her whisper-soft vocal and Botti's velvety-smooth trumpet playing, it's a seductively dreamy performance. "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" pairs Botti with Dean Martin (this track also appears on the Forever Cool duets album). The arrangement is swinging and playful, and Botti's trumpet effortlessly plays off of Martin's smooth vocals. As he proved with To Love Again, Botti is an expert at complementing a vocal, and the fact that the duet with Martin sounds so real, so convincing, is a testament to his skill as a performer. The trio of up tempo numbers is rounded out with "The Way You Look Tonight," the Fields-Kern classic featuring a sparkling arrangement that I can easily imagine Sinatra swinging to in his prime. The album ends with a stunner - Botti's jaw-droppingly gorgeous rendition of "Nessun Dorma," the highlight of the instrumental tracks. As some other reviews have noted, there's not much improvisation on this disc. However in my opinion the lack of improvisation highlights Botti's skill as a trumpeter -- there's no room for error in a song like "Nessun Dorma," and he delivers a spine-tingling, spot-on accurate performance. The control he exhibits on such tracks is quite frankly awe-inspiring. Italia is another wonderfully addictive offering from Chris Botti's seemingly endless reservoir of creativity and talent. I had the thrill of seeing him perform live earlier this year - if you ever get the chance, GO. When you see him perform live and cut loose with his band, and then contrast that with the beautifully orchestrated, soaring trumpet playing he exhibits on an album like Italia, one's respect for the scope of his talent increases tenfold.

This CD is great--smooth, cool music, excellent selection of various sorts of music. I'm not exactly nuts about Dean Martin's I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face, but it's okay.