LIVE with Orchestra and Special Guests [Blu-ray]

Two words to describe Chris Botti's latest release: ear candy. Or maybe auditory bliss would be a more accurate description? Either way, you get my point - I love this DVD. There are no gimmicks here - this is a beautiful, slickly produced concert that first and foremost showcases Botti's virtuosic trumpet playing (which is heavenly!). Most of the musical selections are culled from his latest studio album, the duets-heavy disc To Love Again (read my review of that album on Amazon). The duets are truly duets in every sense of the word - Botti's playing partners with each vocalist perfectly, and the two work to compliment each other, resulting in first-class performances. My favorite duets performances are Paul Cole singing "My One and Only Love," Renee Olstead singing "Pennies from Heaven" (amazing vocalist!), and Gladys Knight singing "Lover Man" (a fantastic performance, very classy). The weakest vocal is Jill Scott's on "Good Morning Heartache" - I love the studio version, but her vocal improvisation here is somewhat jarring, to say the least - but the song is still a great vehicle for Botti's playing and I love the lyric. Sting also appears for two songs - "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" and "My Funny Valentine" (it's a nice touch when Botti serenades Sting's wife sitting in the audience during the latter number). The program also features some swoon-worthy solos from Botti, especially "Someone to Watch Over Me," "When I Fall In Love," and "One For My Baby." His improvisation on these tracks is absolutely stunning, and the songs provide the perfect showcase for Botti's tremendous talent. The arrangements for all of the tracks sparkle, and it's fun to see and hear Botti and the band cut loose and have some fun with the music. This DVD comes packaged with a bonus CD featuring all the songs from the concert. This is an excellent live recording and a great document of Botti's skill with the trumpet. Now...not to sound (too) impatient or anything, but I am so ready for a new studio album!

Picture quality is not high definition. Looks to my eyes somewhere in between DVD and Blu-ray. Sound is good but not great. Mark Whitfield's guitar is inaudible on most songs. Chris's horn is very prominent as you would expect it to be. Fantastic band. Chris is another musician who surrounds himself with other good musicians. Why is IN BOSTON out of print?

I picked up this disc because: 1) I have "When I Fall in Love" (from Botti) and enjoy the content, and 2) it was recommended as a good "reference" disk for HD audio and video.The content is fairly entertaining - the "friends"/guests varied from ho-hum to quite entertaining. I especially enjoyed Gladys Knight, Jill Scott, and Renee Olstead. Botti is a fairly skilled musician, but doesn't really offer too much very "special" in the jazz arena. He does have an excellent band that he plays with, and each have good opportunity to spotlight their skills.As for audio and video quality, it really is current state-of-the-art. The video portion is recorded in its original format of 1080i (originally broadcast on PBS), and is really quite superb. But there is an 96KHz/24bit 5.1 audio track, something quite different entirely than the typical Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. The audio quality is as good as I've heard - the equal to SACD and DVD-A.The price is right, so if you enjoy some "mainstream jazz" and some new arrangements of old "standards", and want the best audio and video that the current state-of-the-art can deliver, it's a great disc to put in your library.

This is a go to Blu-ray when I am showing off the sound on my system. As some have said since I believe it was shot in 2005 the video is not a "10" but IMHO that in no way distracted from the enjoyment of listening to and watching superb musicians on a special nightIf you enjoy it then get the Boston show too. Some very special moments on that one!!!

I always make fun of my friends who think their hip because they listen to smooth jazz. They drop names like Rick Braun, Kenny G and Norman Brown in the same sentences as Coltrane, Miles, Coleman and Ellington like there's no difference. Don't get me wrong- I like smooth jazz too- for what it is and what it isn't. That being said, I just watched the Chris Botti special on PBS during pledge and I am impressed with Chris Botti. Yeah, I knew he did the regular smooth jazz stuff. But he can actually play.This DVD chronicles an evening with the London Orchestra. He and his guest show remarkable range as they explore jazz standards and a couple of pop songs. I especially enjoyed Good Morning Heartache with Jill Scott and Pennies from Heaven with Renee Olstead (who the heck is that... trust me she can "SANG" !!!). I listened to ths using my Harmon Kardon's Hall setting and it sounded pretty good but no cigar. I can't wait to watch this with the 5.1 mix on the DVD. All in all this is a nice DVD to have that showcases a smooth jazz stallworth bluring the lines to straight ahead jazz. I will certainily add this to my collection.

Chris Botti - Live - With Orchestra & Special Guests As other reviewers have noted sound quality is amazing. The instrumental tracks are incredible and Chris Botti's core band are outstanding especially the two Billy's on piano & drums. CB has a beautiful romantic quality to his playing and thoroughly deserves his place in the line of virtuoso jazz musicians through the ages. Unfortunately the DVD dies off a little in the middle when a trail of vocalists are ushered onstage to sing their obviously under-rehearsed songs although Renee Olstead singing 'Pennies from Heaven' is a gem. If you weren't watching the DVD you would swear you were listening to a seasoned jazz singer. Considering CB could ask any vocalist in the world to his party, why didn't he? I would love to hear him play with the likes of Diana Krall, Jamie Cullum, Natalie Cole or Michael Buble to name just a few. Next album perhaps. It all comes right in the end but no need to encore with a muzak version of an old 'Police' hit. But it looked like a lot of fun was had by all. Definitely worth adding to your live jazz collection.

I am a relatively recent fan, courtesy of my wife who has followed him for at least a decade, and am a total convert. In fact he came to New Zealand in mid Feb this year for the first time ever and we had to fly back to Auckland for one night just to see him and then I (who was working down country) flew back down to work the next day. Boy was that a show. The drummer, guitarist, base player and the pianist were world class but the diminutive violist (who looked someone from the Game of Thrones) was something else altogether. Brilliant night, come back soon Chris!!Anyway, when we saw this BR show recorded live in LA was for sale we bought it and we both loved it. Again he has talent all around him AND a huge orchestra too this time (it was just his band in NZ) plus some fantastic guest singers etc. Have watched it a number of times and love the extras that come on the BR. If you're already a fan of CB then buy it, if you aren't then buy it and you soon will be!!

The performance itself is fabulous. Botti has formed a truly magical band and lined up some amazing vocalists for this concert. The music is varied and comprehensive and brilliantly delivered from start to finish.The visual quality is as good as can be expected, with crystal clear images, vibrant colours and depth of field. Audio quality was just as good. Surrounded by four Bowers & Wilkins speakers, it was as good as sitting in front of the musicians themselves, crystal clear at the top end and church organ depth at the bottom end. This is a great Blu-Ray for demonstrating the massive increase in quality a Blu-Ray delivers over DVD ........ another level altogether.Anyone who appreciates top class music performed by world class musicians, will absolutely love this.Oh, the icing on the cake, the truly awesome drum solo at the end ....... what a drummer!! (It's worth purchasing just for this)!

I don't really know what I expected, I had certainly never heard of Chris Botti. All I was looking for was a jazz BluRay or HD-DVD to see how it performed and this title was one of the VERY few listed a 'Jazz'.The first time I listened to the DVD I had mixed feelings but the more I hear it/ watch it, the more I like it. The sound quality is excellent and the visual impact/clarity is what I would expect from a HiDef DVD.The range of supporting artistes is excellent, some I had never heard of. Renee Olstead stands out in particular and I have since purchased one of her CD's.All in all, I'm glad I made the investment.

I purchaesd this Blu ray concert on more of a hunch, as I have Chris Botti playing the trumpet as a guest with many different artists from Andrea Borcelli too Sting and I was taken back by his genius!I will say the hunch really paid off, a great concert, guests were Sting, Burt B, Gladys Knight and a young lady called Paula Cole, Paula and Chris was worth the purchase price alone for the track they did together!!The overall quality of sound and picture makes this one of the best Blu ray discs I have!!If you are an easy listening love a must have, a Jazz lover like myself, order it today!! He is in the class of Louis!

This concert is just stunning! I enjoyed every minute of this sexy trumpet merged with a selection of beautiful voices. The sound quality of a blu-ray disc really adds to the experience. Highly recommended concert.