November, 2026 –

Chris Botti puts Spotlight on World-Class Talent

THE ULTIMATE COLLABORATOR

Performance: Friday to Sunday, February 5-7, 2027

For more than two decades, Grammy-winning master trumpeter Chris Botti has reigned as one of the most brilliant and innovative forces in contemporary music. While his crystalline, poetic tone and multi-platinum albums rightfully place him at the forefront of the genre, a Chris Botti concert is never just a solo showcase. Instead, Botti approaches the stage with the generosity of a master curator, consistently treating his live performances as a collaborative platform to elevate the extraordinary musicians sharing the stage with him.

Rather than hiding his band behind a wall of sound, Botti regularly steps back, turning the spotlight over to his ensemble to let their individual virtuosities shine. From explosive drum solos and intricate jazz guitar passages to soaring vocal showcases and delicate violin cadenzas, a performance with Botti is an immersive group experience. By surrounding himself with elite artists who span jazz, classical, R&B, and soul, Botti transforms every night into a dynamic, unpredictable celebration of collective musicianship where every player on stage gets a moment to steal the show.

Meet the Band

Sy Smith (Vocals)
A powerhouse singer-songwriter widely regarded as a leading voice in the independent soul and neo-soul movements, Sy Smith has collaborated and toured with top-tier icons like Whitney Houston and Sheila E. Her soaring vocal range, commanding stage presence, and deep emotional delivery consistently bring audiences to their feet during feature performances.

Lee Pearson (Drums)
Hailing from Baltimore, Lee Pearson is an electrifying percussionist whose career spans jazz, R&B, and major Broadway productions like Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk. Known for maintaining a deeply rooted classic rhythmic vocabulary while executing jaw-dropping solos, he brings immense energy and pocket-tight groove to the ensemble.

Barry Stephenson (Bass)
A versatile acoustic and electric bassist and composer, Barry Stephenson has performed with notable acts like Jon Batiste and Stay Human and earned prestigious accolades including the ASCAP Foundation Louis Armstrong Award. His technical fluency and warm harmonic foundation anchor the group’s dynamic range across intimate ballads and high-energy numbers alike.

Mark Whitfield (Guitar)
An acclaimed hard bop and soul-jazz guitarist, Mark Whitfield has built a stellar career as both a celebrated bandleader on major labels and a longtime collaborator with jazz royalty like Jimmy Smith and Chris Botti. His tasteful phrasing, sophisticated chordal accompaniments, and effortless fretboard mastery are staples of the Botti sound.

Andy Ezrin (Piano / Keyboards)
A virtuosic keyboardist who began playing professionally in his early teens, Andy Ezrin boasts an extraordinary resume performing alongside jazz legends like Wynton Marsalis alongside pop and rock icons like Sting and James Taylor. His diverse stylistic palette allows him to effortlessly bridge acoustic jazz textures with rich, modern keyboard arrangements.

Anastasiia Mazurok (Violin)
A Juilliard-trained concert violinist from Saint Petersburg, Russia, Anastasiia Mazurok is an award-winning performer recognized for her spellbinding technique and emotional depth. Bringing a touch of classical brilliance to the stage, her soaring melodies and intricate phrasing add a breathtaking cinematic dimension to the band’s arrangements.

Chris Botti – Live in Charlotte
This performance captures the electrifying chemistry and brilliant individual spotlights that define Chris Botti’s live shows with his world-class band.

Performing all weekend, February 5-7.

GRAMMY-winning trumpeter Chris Botti has been one of the most popular instrumentalists in the world for nearly three decades. He has collaborated with some of the biggest superstars on the planet, including Sting, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, Steven Tyler, Andrea Bocelli, Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo Ma, and many others. Botti has topped the jazz charts with numerous albums, earned multiple Gold and Platinum records, and performed with symphony orchestras and on prestigious stages from Carnegie Hall to the Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House.

In short, Chris Botti really needs no introduction, having firmly established himself as one of the most important and innovative figures in contemporary music.

Yet, with his Blue Note Records debut, he’s offering one anyway. His 2023 release, Vol. 1, is, in many ways, a fresh start for the trumpeter. Having successfully crossed over from jazz renown to pop stardom, Botti’s first album in more than a decade finds him crossing back, with a small-group project focused on acoustic jazz and classic standards.

“I turned 60 in 2022, at a time that seemed like a restart for so many things in the world,” Botti says. “I wanted to strip away all the orchestral arrangements and special guests and focus more on my playing, the playing of my band, and these jazz classics that we always love playing on stage.”

While Botti could boast of the major names with whom he has shared stages, this project allows him to share his enthusiasm for the jazz greats—past and present—that inspire him. His conversation is peppered with references to everyone from Miles Davis to Keith Jarrett to Pat Metheny to Brad Mehldau. He points to landmark albums like Davis’ Kind of Blue, John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, or Metheny’s duo outing with Charlie Haden, Beyond the Missouri Sky, as models for the kind of “lifestyle” music he set out to make—music that is exquisite on its own but can also set the scene for a coffee shop or hotel lounge, instantly generating a sophisticated mood.

Longtime fans will immediately recognize in all of Botti’s albums and performances his glowing tone and regal melodicism, as well as his flair for investing the narrative of a song with high drama and vibrant emotion. “There’s a cinematic quality that I like to hear in music, and that I’ve found that audiences really love,” he says.

Chris Botti has found the perfect environment for his artistic rebirth at the legendary Blue Note—both the record label and the iconic club, a standard-bearer of jazz throughout its storied history. He enjoys a multi-month residency there each year and spends the rest of his time touring the world’s premier concert halls and theaters.

Middle C Jazz is honored to present Chris Botti and his exceptional band in a rare, intimate performance, giving Charlotte a chance to experience this masterful trumpeter up close. His ensemble includes:

Chris Botti on Trumpet
Lee Pearson on Drums
Dan Chmielinski on Bass
Leonardo Amuedo on Guitar
Julius Rodriguez on Piano
Anastasiia Mazurok on Violin
Veronica Swift on Vocals
John Splithoff on Vocals (also featured on Botti’s latest album)
Rusty Shaw on Audio

This highly anticipated show has been sold out for months. For those seeking world-class musicianship, upcoming performances by Keiko Matsui and Spyro Gyra in March offer excellent upcoming opportunities.

WEBSITE…

LISTEN: VOL 1, YOUTUBE…
LISTEN: CHRIS BOTTI AT THE BLUE NOTE, DURING HIS 19TH ANNUAL RESIDENCY…

Chris Botti honors Arturo Sandoval at his 2025 Lifetime Achievement Awards Ceremony, with a performance of “Smile”.