I've heard his playing on other artists CD's.
He can play. Kenny G use to be a wicked fusion player
before going smooooth.
He can play. Kenny G use to be a wicked fusion player
before going smooooth.
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Double Bass Is Chris Botti really any good???
- Thread starter Jake
- Start date
Before he became a pop star he did work in more adventurous environments. There's a nice live album with Bill Bruford, Tony Levin and David Torn (yeah, it's fusion) where the music is more challenging...same great tone, though.
It takes a lot of skill to play almost ANY kind of music night after night to make a living. When music pays your bills you are somewhat beholden to do what it takes to get the paycheck. The realities of the music business have almost no correlation to the fantasy of being a professional musician. Heavyweights are heavyweights and we all respect them. Trying to pay your bills is something else entirely. The only relevant question is can he deliver what is asked of him for the gig.
He's good enough that I purchased several of his CD's. He plays a style of Jazz that actually sells a bit.
Don't really know if he has the "chops" to hang with trumpet gods, living or not. But really, who cares about chops, anyways?
It's music. If you can communicate and touch someone emotionally, you have succeeded.
Don't really know if he has the "chops" to hang with trumpet gods, living or not. But really, who cares about chops, anyways?
It's music. If you can communicate and touch someone emotionally, you have succeeded.
Before he became a pop star he did work in more adventurous environments. There's a nice live album with Bill Bruford, Tony Levin and David Torn (yeah, it's fusion) where the music is more challenging...same great tone, though.
I was lucky enough to see this band live- MIND BLOWINGLY GOOD!
Botti is legit in my book- ymmv.
Joe
It's really hilarious how we jazz players often seem to turn on other jazz players who have attained various degrees of success in the"pop" genre. Bobby Hackett, Doc Severinson and Quincy Jones are three trumpet players that come to mind. I don't know if it happens with the classical players. Do they too look down their snoots at Edgar Meyer and Yo Yo Ma? I recall what my friend, pianist, singer Bobby Cole used to say about the "polite jazz" that we played in the popular watering holes:
"It beats sluggin' rats."
"It beats sluggin' rats."
YoYo Ma gets no flak from the classical world, but many people are critical of his forays into bluegrass (w/Meyer) and world music as being "beneath him".
I saw Edgar do a solo set at a bluegrass festival wher he played some of the Bach cello suites. There were a lot of open mouths and no booing. I have no idea how he's perceived in the classical world but both Sony and DG have recorded his compositions.
I saw Edgar do a solo set at a bluegrass festival wher he played some of the Bach cello suites. There were a lot of open mouths and no booing. I have no idea how he's perceived in the classical world but both Sony and DG have recorded his compositions.
