Deecy

Saw a small portion of a Chris Botti show on PBS last evening. Introducing a singer he said, "I want to introduce you to an unbelievable vocalist. If you close your eyes you'll hear Sarah Vaughan - Ella Fitzgerald! But don't close your eyes because you'll want to blah, blah, blah . . . Let's welcome . . ."
Out came this near-no talent kid with a squeaky voice and a bouncy style who really needed voice lessons. The only thing she had in common with either of those two greats was that she wore a dress too. What's with Botti? Does he think people are stupid? Is he too cheap to hire a vocalist with some talent?
I commented on this phenomenon before when, one night, he had a really bad male singer at whom Botti repeatedly shook his head in disbelief at the sheer wonder of it all as the guy made his mediocre way through a set of lyrics.
I know I'm going to get a lot of flak because so many think that Chris Botti walks on water. I know also that I'll be told how wonderful it is that he's successful and able to give young talent a chance and that I envy him and wish I had his talent. Yeah, yeah, yeah!
If anybody has any other comments I'll listen.
Let 'er rip!
BTW, the only thing I'm envious of is Botti's 1950's Committee and wish I had it!

D/

gtromble

That "really bad male singer" wasn't, by any chance, Sting? I know he did a number on Chris's PBS special.

GT

Lawler Bb

If the "no-talent kid" you are referring to was Renee Olstead, I think you might be wrong. She is still a kid (around 18 I think) and has a gorgeous voice. Yes, she has some growing up to do, but she has it together pretty well for her age. I guess I for one, enjoy her singing and she does remind me of Ella and Sarah Vaughan to a degree.

If this is not who you were referring to, then nevermind! This is the only young person I remember on the special with the comments of Ella and Sarah Vaughan.

wiseone2

Is this the PBS special in question?
http://home.nestor.minsk.by/jazz/news/2006/01/1105.html
I guess you saw a different show.

I did a studio date with Chris before he was THE Chris Botti. He was on time (that means he was there at least a half hour early), he was professional ( that means he sat down and was ready to play anything that was asked of him), he was an all around good guy to work with. That is all anyone can ask for on a studio session. Oh.......the date was a recording of a "48 Hours" theme.
That is the Chris Botti I know.
Wilmer

gregc

I think the kid is 16! It's great to see guys who have made it helping out the next generation. She wasn't Ella, OK, but she wasn't bad. He was pumping the kid up. I'm guilty of doing that to kids too.

gregc

Eclipsehornplayer

I didn't see the show so I can't comment on it.

If he was trying to stoke some confidence in the young person what's wrong with that.

We all "sucked" at one time or another. I have yet to see anyone pick up a Cornet/Trumpet for the very first time and play every note with stunning perfection.

It takes time/practice etc..

If she was sub standard so what? Maybe a year or two from now she wont be.

It's amazing how critcal people can be of each other.

trickg

Let's also not forget that no one is ever at 100% all of the time and everyone can have an off night - maybe Chris talked her up thinking she was going to come out and nail it, and then she simply had an off night. The voice is an interesting instrument - I've had nights where I have just nailed it, and I have also had nights where I was all over the place and couldn't really put my finger on why. (edit: "all over the place" for me vocally is still passable to anyone who really doesn't know what to listen for. )

Let's also not forget that bad sound and monitoring can destroy even the best of vocalists - if you have spent any time doing lead vocals on a mic, you'll know what I'm talking about. When you get up there to sing and you can't hear for diddly, the best you can do is lay it out there and hope that the practice you put in is enough to keep you near enough to the pitch so that you aren't completely awful.

And lets also not forget that there are times when who you are or who you know goes as far or farther toward getting you the gig as does your talent and abilities. I know I'm probably going to get blasted for saying this, but Sunday night I was at a Van Morrison concert and I got to thinking that if he wasn't Van Morrison - who sells out venues whenever he decides to tour - he might have a hard time finding a gig. His sax playing was...well, sharp and thin, and while he certainly has his own vocal stylings, it isn't really anything that my cover band could use, unless of course he was going to be hired to cover Van Morrison type tunes. And he wasn't really engaging as an entertainer - he never even talked to the crowd except for one time when he announced a guest vocalist. (the dude who opened the show for him) He just sort of stood up there in one place and sang his songs. Then again, he might have just been having an off night!

Keeping in mind I didn't see the program, I'd be willing to bet that when this girl is on, she is a fantastic singer, and that due to her age and lack of experience and polish, she probably just had an off night.

Deecy

Okay, I'm sorry. The girl was better than Ella and made Sarah look like the fat old woman she was! If only the sound system had been up to snuff we'd have seen. Also, Chris Botti is the kindest, most mature, encouraging, polished stage presence I've ever seen bar none. And his trumpet playing! Well. no more needs to be said!
(Hey! I'm not doing anything that Chris Botti doesn't do - encouraging the young! To hell with truth and respect fot the audience's intelligence.)

Yours truly,

P.T. Barnum

trumpettrax

I do believe the young lady is 16. Also, kinghornplayer - if you did not see the program, you can purchase the DVD "Chris Botti Live" something like that on his website.

I think that once you have someone on your program you are not going to say "Hey let's give it up for the crummiest voice you have ever heard" or just stop the show and say "you stink - get off the stage". So, with that they may shake your head like you are enjoying the performer and thinking to yourself - OMG! What have I done?

Me personally, I saw the performance and loved it! I'm buying the DVD too! :)

trax

kadleck

It sounds like the original poster has more of an axe to grind with Botti, and not so much "the singer". I think that "Botti bashing" is replacing "Monette bashing" as the single most popular TM topic. Pretty weak.