Personnel: Chris Botti (trumpet); Chris Botti; Dean Martin, Andrea Bocelli, Paula Cole (vocals); Skaila Kanga (harp); Julian Leaper, Warren Zielinski, Mark Berrow, Deborah Widdup, Christopher Tombling, David Woodcock, Mike Davis , Perry Montague-Mason, Jonathan Evans-Jones, Rose Warren-Green, Paul Willey, John Bradbury , Boguslav Kostecki, Johnathan Rees, Emlyn Singleton (violin); Donald McVay, Vicci Wardman, Edward Vanderspar, Gustav Clarkson, Peter Lale, Bruce White (viola); Joe Knight , Tony Lewis , David Daniels , Martin Loveday, Anthony Pleeth (cello); Andy Panayi, Rick Mitchell, Steve Kujala, Helen Keen, Robert Shulgold, Philip Todd, Andy Findon (flute); Julian Farrell, Nick Moss & the Flip Tops, Nick Bucknall, Donald Markese (clarinet); David Theodore (oboe); Leila Ward (English horn); Meyrick Alexander, Dominic Morgan, Richard Skinner , Andrew Radford (bassoon); John Barclay, Guy Barker, Derek Watkins, Simon Gardner (trumpet); Suzette Moriarty, Justin Hageman, Michael Thompson , Brian O'Connor , Richard Berry , David Pyatt , Kurt Snyder, Martin Owen (French horn); Michael Hext, Dudley Bright, Nicholas Lane, Mark Nightingale, Richard Edwards , Richard Bullock, Bruce Otto (trombone); John Van Houten, Owen Slade (tuba); Billy Childs, Billy Childs Trio (piano); Christian McBride, Jimmy Johnson , James Genus, Brian Bromberg (bass guitar); Frank Ricotti, Gary Kettel (percussion); Orchestra of St. John's (background vocals); James Harrah (guitar); Dean Parks (acoustic guitar); Shane Fontayne (electric guitar); Tom Scott (soprano saxophone); Randy Waldman, David Foster (piano); Gil Goldstein (Fender Rhodes piano); Billy Kilson, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Paul Clarvis (percussion); Jochem van der Saag (programming).
Additional personnel: Dean Martin, Andrea Bocelli, Paula Cole.
Audio Mixers: Al Schmitt; Steve Genewick.
Recording information: Air Lyndhurst Hall, Hampstead, England; Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA.
Photographer: Fabrizio Ferri.
Arrangers: David Foster; Gil Goldstein; Jeremy Lubbock.
On this 2007 album, romance-obsessed trumpeter Chris Botti looks to Italy for inspiration. A set of swooning smooth-jazz tunes, ITALIA features a number of guest vocalists, including Andrea Bocelli (on the gentle title track) and Paula Cole (a spare, elegant version of "The Very Thought of You"), along with the late Dean Martin, whose unmistakable croon turns up on a lightly swinging rendition of "I've Grown Accustomed to Your Face." Botti shines the brightest, however, on instrumental pieces, most notably his warm, laid-back takes on two classic numbers by revered Italian composer Ennio Morricone, "Deborah's Theme" (from ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA) and "Gabriela's Oboe" (from THE MISSION).
Professional Reviews
JazzTimes (p.108) - "Backed by a choral section, Botti hits an emotional high on 'Ave Maria,' the poignant and emotionally charged religious aria."
This title is unavailable for purchase as none of our regular suppliers have stock available. If you are the publisher, author or distributor for this item, please visit
this link.
