Chris Botti - Night Sessions - Columbia CS 85753 (2002) SACD rip via PS3 to iso (4.92GB) | Dual layer non-hybrid disc | 24bit/88.2kHz flac | Mch (2.87GB) (+3.83dB gain) | 2ch (1.04GB) DR13 (+3.44dB gain) | Smooth Jazz, Pop Jazz Extraordinarily, for one so young, this is Botti's fourth solo album - not counting a film soundtrack. It is good that those who have heard him in the company of Sting & Joni Mitchell may have been tempted by his more explicit jazz mode. This is a wonderfully produced, exquisitely played collection. Smooth in the best sense of that word. This album was recorded, as the title suggests, during the night when Chris & musicians returned from touring with Sting. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amazon reviews: By Carl E. Olson: Let's see: the cover art shouts "pretty," the music is supposedly "smooth jazz" (augh!), and the title--Night Sessions--is, well, bland. But I'll be darned if this isn't a great CD. Botti may be pretty, but so is his playing, in the best sense of the word. And while the music may be smooth, it isn't (thank goodness) the blandly vapid stuff that usually passes for contemporary jazz. Although different in many ways, the music reminds me of Wayne Shorter's underrated and wonderful "High Life": intelligent, contemporary instrumental music that actually defies genres. Both effortless and far more complex than it initially seems, this is music that one can either relax to as background music or seriously consider right up front. I have to agree with one of the other reviewers, who rightly points out that Dominic Miller is one brilliant player. His presence is clearly evident--and it doesn't hurt to have players like Christian McBride (who plays with Botti on Sting's latest live CD) and Vinni Colaiuta (another Sting alumni). A fine disc--I'm officially a fan. By Nolan Quinn: I'm a Jazz trumpeter myself, & never heard anything similar to Botti's lyricism. (That's the 1st 5 stars: originality.) Of course, listening to Chet Baker you hear the warmest & most dreamy sound one can possibly get out of a Bb horn. Miles, late in his career, experimented with "pop" songs with lyrical melodies, but his sound was sometimes scratchy & most of the time out-of-tune (which doesn't mean that you couldn't appreciate it: that was trademark music!), &: it got pretty commercial. The Night Sessions are "coolness" at its best, & stylistically somehow linked to both the trumpeters. Simple & straightforward phrasing, but very efficient & unique, is the biggest part of it. Then, to prevent it from getting too repetitive, Botti blends finger-knotting licks within the unruffled harmonic textures. So far so good, really! (Let's give it 2 stars more... 7 ?!) But then, listening closely, you perceive that there's little interaction between the different instruments, mainly because most of the effects were mixed in later, & because sure enough the Sessions were recorded with an ordinary studio approach: record most of the voices separately & mix them together after having them duly EQ-altered! (That's the only way I can explain his getting out-of-tune, on long notes especially! Usually flat - check track 11 "Through an open window".) Subtract a star... In addition to the negative aspects of the CD are some of the commercial "keyboard" harmonics, mere software pre-programmed PAD sounds or effects... Subtract another one... So I give this CD *****. I simply couldn't believe it was possible to mix typical Jazz trumpet-lyricism with "almost-pop" harmonic schemes & sounds in such a clean & totally convincing way. By Rodrigo Alexander: I first listened to Chris Botti's "Night Sessions" in my friend's car after purchasing it at a local music store. As soon as the groove started on "Lisa" I was hooked. I haven't been able to stop listening to this album since! Being a trumpet player myself, I can definitely appreciate the sound Botti produces. His mastery of warm & smooth note transitions is most evident on track 10 "Light the Stars" & track 12 "Easter Parade". I'll be the 1st to tell you; sound like THAT you're either born with or work your whole life developing (the latter being my case). Whatever Botti's case may be, he sure makes my (& a lot of other trumpet players') knees wobble every time he articulates the reocurring rhythmic theme, or riff, of "Miami Overnight". His control of melody & harmony, although simple, directly honour & quote the great Miles Davis & the west coast style. This is clear on track 1 "Lisa" & track 6 "Best Time" where he applies great "harmon" mute technique very similar to Davis' ballad styles on "Kinda Blue". My favorite tracks on this CD are "When I See You", "All Would Envy", "Streets Ahead", & (you guessed it) "Miami Overnight". This record is a MUST for anyone who is serious about music &/or the tone & musicality on their instrument; whatever that instrument may be. As for the rest of you, it can be, & I believe I'm quoting Botti directly on this one, "music to shag by". Overall, Chris Botti brings smooth jazz to a new level; 1 where other "legit" jazz players (like myself) will not be embarrassed to admit that they own this "smooth" record. Available here http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005RGNE/?tag=sacdinfocom-20 and here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00005RGNE/?tag=sacdinfocom08-21 Hear empty3 samples here: http://www.fye.com/s/product/2889831/Chris-Botti-Night-Sessions-SACD#.U2970vldXQQ Tracks: 01. "Lisa" Chris Botti, Kipper, Dominic Miller 5:08 02. "Miami Overnight" Botti, Kipper, Billy Childs 4:34 03. "Streets Ahead" Botti, Kipper 3:43 04. "Interlude" Botti, Kipper, Childs 0:30 05. "All Would Envy" Sting 5:01 06. "Best Time" Botti, Kipper 5:01 07. "When I See You" Botti, Kipper 4:16 08. "You Move Me" Botti, Kipper, Marc Shulman, Camilla 5:09 09. "Blue Horizon" Botti, Kipper, Childs 4:10 10. "Light the Stars" Botti, Kipper 4:42 11. "Through an Open Window" Botti, Kipper, Miller, Jeff Young 4:16 12. "Easter Parade" Paul Buchanan, Paul Joseph Moore 5:38 About 56 minutes Your hardware set-up determinates the mix you hear: Advanced Resolution Stereo or Advanced Resolution 5.1 Surround Sound. The Mch mix has elements not found in the 2ch mix ;) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Checksum for iso: d00041266fc54cfe5a61d9972feec8c2 *CHRIS BOTTI - NIGHT SESSIONS.iso Checksums for flac tracks Mch: ca874502e993a387d4546ff86c8b45e9 *01 - CHRIS BOTTI - Lisa.flac d21a1fb6c40aab799765a97061976ac8 *02 - CHRIS BOTTI - Miami Overnight.flac 90f8fbc980e745025d07ff0a2d94a017 *03 - CHRIS BOTTI - Streets Ahead.flac d118e70cb0c114ff48c8cfd44ce5aff0 *04 - CHRIS BOTTI - Interlude.flac 895c26e2dec0bb16de71b544c7c7a7fa *05 - CHRIS BOTTI - All Would Envy.flac 3955c487115ec0030908883e9b356dc6 *06 - CHRIS BOTTI - Best Time.flac fcacce909b9b83c22c7b0cbd6627d228 *07 - CHRIS BOTTI - When I See You.flac 843e046a6738d8f1c2b465795ecb5473 *08 - CHRIS BOTTI - You Move Me.flac 91da49e7ce0e9de0198d90e22a67fe81 *09 - CHRIS BOTTI - Blue Horizon.flac 117a68b8dcf66b941b3b057a4b5a4321 *10 - CHRIS BOTTI - Light The Stars.flac 44534ff97b78f11734acd3ee275a8f49 *11 - CHRIS BOTTI - Through An Open Window.flac 947e6b903e8b9f52ae8164e8d2307403 *12 - CHRIS BOTTI - Easter Parade.flac 15a1ef0c479a6f47feedcdb56ddabcf2 *13 - CHRIS BOTTI - Union.flac Checksums for flac tracks 2ch: ebed6a39ae16339880f74257cbc0ff77 *01 - CHRIS BOTTI - Lisa.flac e4995f670561cd1ac93be531e65d2ff3 *02 - CHRIS BOTTI - Miami Overnight.flac 573fa54175011ade6996f35d1a3c3a39 *03 - CHRIS BOTTI - Streets Ahead.flac 74592095b406a4609b961e9645963497 *04 - CHRIS BOTTI - Interlude.flac e0fff855b43f02ace2fbe4a1d9a725be *05 - CHRIS BOTTI - All Would Envy.flac e81fef51b53bb6f60d4df0c2dde7f35c *06 - CHRIS BOTTI - Best Time.flac e071d05d3a86278a52a06dea7e3b5312 *07 - CHRIS BOTTI - When I See You.flac c63c4bdb2a8aaeabcbb196387ba6d279 *08 - CHRIS BOTTI - You Move Me.flac 6fb21f7f14a4ea601057b79bc11093be *09 - CHRIS BOTTI - Blue Horizon.flac 4783024dc9d883d3712e8e127ee6e905 *10 - CHRIS BOTTI - Light The Stars.flac b9f7a70a8a0a177a043d5fcae9ed6bc1 *11 - CHRIS BOTTI - Through An Open Window.flac 84277ffcbe6c5a8f559240e6611e2fb0 *12 - CHRIS BOTTI - Easter Parade.flac 7824223a268ca8a92444f01f9febab19 *13 - CHRIS BOTTI - Union.flac