Lineup - Botti At Sea 2025

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An instrumentalist who can play straight-ahead as well as smooth jazz with his own personal sound and not a small amount of charisma and stage presence, Chris Botti is truly a star in the world of jazz and beyond. The trumpeter has thoroughly established himself as one of the important, innovative figures of the contemporary music world.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Botti’s career was not an overnight success. Nonetheless, he went on to release a slew of not only top-selling albums, but also GRAMMY award-winning ones. Since the release of his 2004 critically acclaimed album, When I Fall In Love, Chris Botti has become the largest-selling American instrumental artist. His success has crossed over to audiences usually reserved for pop music and his ongoing association with PBS has led to four #1 jazz albums, as well as multiple Gold, Platinum and GRAMMY Awards. His album, Impressions, won the GRAMMY for Best Pop Instrumental. Performing worldwide and selling more than 4 million albums, he has found a form of creative expression that begins in jazz and expands beyond the limits of any single genre.

Over the past three decades, Botti has recorded and performed with the best in music, including Sting, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Josh Groban, Yo-Yo Ma, Michael Bublé, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, John Mayer, Andrea Bocelli, Joshua Bell, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and even Frank Sinatra. The trumpeter has also performed with many of the finest symphonies and at some of the world's most prestigious venues, from Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl to the Sydney Opera House and the Real Teatro di San Carlo in Italy. His bands have always featured top-notch jazz players, many of whom are established leaders on their own – from Geoffrey Keezer to Billy Childs. The man seems to do it all and do it with style.

“I believe that everyone gets three rounds in their life,” says musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, producer, and recording artist David Foster. “For me, two are completed and I’m on to Round Three. I think you have to change it up every round. My mantra is retreat and attack in another direction, which I’ve done twice. Now I’m going to do it again.”

Foster’s first round was as a studio musician, arranger, and recording artist. His second round was becoming one of the most successful songwriters and record producers in history — shepherding albums that have collectively sold in the hundreds of millions. This period of his four-decade career also found him creating The David Foster Foundation and volunteering his time and talent to over 400 charities, as well as becoming a household name as a performer throughout Asia where he tours annually. For his third round, Foster is gearing up to take on Broadway with several projects. These include writing the music for a new musical about the iconic, animated character Betty Boop, which will be directed by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell.

Foster seems constitutionally incapable of resting on his laurels, and his relentless drive has propelled him throughout his career. Few other individuals can claim to have their fingerprints on more major moments in all of popular music than David Foster. He has created hit songs and award-winning gold and platinum albums for a diverse array of artists including Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Diana Krall, Natalie Cole, Michael Bolton, Seal, Chaka Khan, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Chicago, Hall & Oates, Brandy, ’N Sync, Boz Scaggs, and Gloria Estefan. He has escorted singers who have straddled both pop and classical styles like Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban into the mainstream. He has also created culture-defining soundtracks for blockbuster films like The Bodyguard, Urban Cowboy, and St. Elmo’s Fire; and crafted timeless holiday classics, including perennial best-sellers like Josh Groban’s Noel, Michael Bublé’s Christmas, Celine Dion’s These Are Special Times, Rod Stewart’s Merry Christmas Baby, Andrea Bocelli’s My Christmas, and Mary J. Blige’s A Mary Christmas.

For his remarkable work, Foster has won 16 GRAMMY Awards, including three for Producer of the Year, an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe and racked up three Oscar nominations for Best Original Song. He has also earned a reputation as a keen spotter of new talent, playing a key role in the discovery and career launches of Celine Dion, Josh Groban, and Michael Bublé. Recently, he has been performing with his wife—actress and singer Katharine McPhee—in a production they call The Kat and Dave Show.

Diana Krall is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer known for her contralto vocals. She has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide, including over six million in the US. On December 11, 2009, Billboard magazine named her the second greatest jazz artist of the decade (2000–2009), establishing her as one of the best-selling artists of her time.

Krall is the only jazz singer to have eight albums debut at the top of the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. To date, her albums have garnered multiple GRAMMY Awards, 10 Juno Awards, and have earned nine gold, three platinum, and seven multi-platinum albums. Her unique artistry transcends any single musical style and has made her one of the most recognizable artists of our time. As The New York Times recently noted, she possesses “a voice at once cool and sultry, wielded with a rhythmic sophistication.”

Krall’s 1999 release of “When I Look in Your Eyes” spent an unprecedented 52 weeks in the No. 1 position on Billboard's Jazz chart, won multiple GRAMMY Awards, and went platinum in the United States and Canada.

Since the 1993 release of Stepping Out, her debut studio album, she has released more than a dozen albums, including Only Trust Your Heart in 1995, All for You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio in 1996, Love Scenes in 1997, When I Look in Your Eyes in 1999, The Look of Love in 2001, The Girl in the Other Room in 2004, Christmas Songs in 2005, From This Moment On in 2006, Quiet Nights in 2009, Glad Rag Doll in 2012, Wallflower in 2015, Turn Up the Quiet in 2017 and Love Is Here to Stay, with Tony Bennett, in 2018.

Her latest release, This Dream of You, has garnered critical acclaim from fans and press alike. Released in 2020, the album collects Krall’s scores of studio recordings she performed with her longtime producer Tommy LiPuma before his death in 2017. In addition to the title track — which is her rendition of the Bob Dylan song — the album features songs such as “But Beautiful,” “Autumn in New York,” “Almost Like Being in Love,” “How Deep Is the Ocean” and “Singing in the Rain.”

An accomplished actress and singer, Katharine McPhee, first burst onto the scene during a storied run on Season 5 of American Idol (2006), finishing in second place. As an actress, she is well-known to television audiences for starring in the CBS drama series Scorpion (2014-2018), and also as one of the leads in the NBC musical drama Smash (2012-2013), executive produced by Steven Spielberg. She starred in the Netflix comedy series, Country Comfort (2021). McPhee’s feature film credits include The House Bunny, Shark Night 3D, You May Not Kiss the Bride and Bayou Caviar.

Born in Los Angeles to a father who was a television producer and a mother who became a noted vocal coach, McPhee showed early musical talent and she was encouraged and even trained by her mother. She attended Boston Conservatory for three semesters, majoring in musical theatre, but left college before graduation and returned to Los Angeles to try out for television pilots. In March 2005, McPhee starred as Annie Oakley in a Cabrillo Music Theater production of the musical Annie Get Your Gun. But it was her successful audition and appearance on American Idol in 2006 that initially introduced her to a worldwide audience.

As a singer, Katharine is renowned for her powerhouse presence and show-stopping performances. In 2006, her first single, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/My Destiny,” debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Hot Singles Sales chart. Propelled by the gold-certified single, “Over It,” her 2007 self-titled album debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200. 2010 saw the release of two records, Unbroken and Christmas is the Time To Say I Love You. That year, her rendition of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” also climbed the charts as a top-five holiday hit. She went on to independently release 2015’s Hysteria to much fan praise. In 2017, McPhee reimagined, recharged, and reinvigorated a host of timeless standards on her fifth full-length album, I Fall In Love Too Easily, produced by Don Was. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. A sought-after performer, Katharine has taken the stage for various PBS broadcasts throughout the years, including Foster and Friends, Chris Botti In Boston, and headlining her own SoundStage special. In Spring 2018, McPhee made her Broadway debut starring as Jenna in the hit musical Waitress, featuring music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles. She then moved on to originate the leading role in the West End production of the show in London from February through June 2019. She later returned to star in the show one last time during the final weeks of its original run on Broadway from November 2019 through its closing on January 5, 2020.

In addition to her acting and singing career, McPhee is a passionate philanthropist, having served as an ambassador for organizations such as BuildOn, Malaria No More and Feeding America. In recent years, she has been performing with her husband—the keyboardist, composer and producer David Foster—in a production they call The Kat and Dave Show.

SPECIAL GUEST

Kool & the Gang's impact on the music landscape spans three generations, leaving an indelible mark through iconic tracks like Celebration, Cherish, Jungle Boogie, Summer Madness, and Open Sesame. Their enduring legacy is underscored by two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits, and an impressive 31 gold and platinum albums. Remarkably, the band has maintained a continuous musical journey for an unprecedented 43 years, surpassing any other R&B group in history. Their distinctive fusion of funk and jazz has rendered them the most sampled band of all time.

Formed in 1964 by Khalis Bayyan (Ronald Bell) and his brother Robert "Kool" Bell, alongside neighborhood friends, Kool & the Gang initially navigated various names like the Jazziacs, The New Dimensions, The Soul Town Band, and Kool & the Flames before settling on their iconic moniker. Over the years, they honed their musical chemistry, supporting luminaries such as Richie Havens, and Richard Pryor.

Their eponymous 1969 debut album marked the genesis of a theme that still resonates today: music is the message. This instrumental masterpiece introduced their signature sound and powerful horn arrangements. The subsequent years witnessed a string of albums, including the audacious Live at the Sex Machine in 1970 and the gold-certified Wild & Peaceful in 1973, catapulting them to new heights with hits like Funky Stuff, Hollywood Swinging, and Jungle Boogie.

The '80s ushered in a new era with the platinum success of Ladies Night, featuring the chart-topping title track and the hit Too Hot. The decade solidified their mainstream dominance with the double platinum album Celebrate, headlined by the international anthem Celebration. Their chart-topping streak continued with hits like Get Down On It, Cherish, and Fresh from the multi-platinum LP Emergency.

As the '90s embraced hip-hop, Kool & the Gang's grooves became DJ favorites, making them second only to James Brown as a source of rap samples. Today, their global fame endures, fueled by a catalog that remains a staple for artists such as Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Madonna, and more. The band's influence spans film soundtracks, including Rocky and Saturday Night Fever. Their continued touring, collaborations with diverse artists, and accolades like the BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement award underscore their timeless contribution to music. In October 2015, they cemented their status as American musical icons with a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in the town they celebrated in one of their earliest hits, "Hollywood Swinging."

When it comes to black music, Washington, D.C. produces its share of game-changers. That long list includes Duke Ellington, Chuck Brown, Marvin Gaye, Shirley Horn, Roberta Flack, Bad Brains, Meshell Ndegeocello, Wale, and Oddisee. You can add Ben Williams to that venerated roster.

For more than a decade, Williams has steadily become one of the most acclaimed and versatile bassists in modern jazz. In 2009, he won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. He has performed/recorded with such giants as Pat Metheny, George Benson, Stefon Harris, David Sanborn, Lauryn Hill, Wynton Marsalis, Robert Glasper, Maxwell and Nicholas Payton. In 2013 and 2015 Williams received the DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll Rising Star Award for Bass. Williams became a “Rising Star” when he won the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Bass Competition Award that landed him his first record-deal with Concord Records. Thereafter, he recorded and released State of Art in 2011 with his band, Sound Effect. The album received an impressive 4.5 star review in DownBeat Magazine and reached #1 on the charts of iTunes and the National BillBoard. He was named the 2011 iTtunes Breakthrough Artist of the Year in the category of jazz.

As a leader, Williams revealed his talents as a keen composer and bandleader on his first two Concord Records albums – State of Art (2011) and Coming of Age (2015). As gripping as those albums are, they don’t prepare you for Williams’ newest album, I AM A MAN, released Rainbow Blonde, a new imprint co-owned by singer, songwriter, and kindred spirit, José James. Sonically, the new album departs grandly from the mostly acoustic instrumental settings of his previous albums. Williams imbued his love for modern R&B and hip-hop and his socio-political awareness subtly on State of Art and Coming of Age. But on I AM A MAN, he brings them to the fore with mesmerizing vocal-centric songs that will surely raise his profile higher in modern soul and rap circles.

With the help from sound engineer Brian Bender, I AM A MAN boasts a humid and hazy sound that recalls Soulaquarian albums released by The Roots, Erykah Badu, Bilal, D’Angelo, Common, and Roy Hargrove’s RH Factor. “I wanted to make this not just a musical statement, but sonically, I wanted to dig into a different sound. We had the opportunity to work in the studio to craft some sounds. What you hear is Brian’s brilliance with engineering. I wanted this record to deal with the past, present, and future,” Williams says.

Arlington Jones was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1973, but his family moved to Dallas, Texas in 1976 when his father received a job transfer. His musical journey started at an early age because of his parents’ music heritage and vast album collection. He began studying piano at age eight, started playing in church, and took drum lessons as well. His extraordinary talent and great passion for music soon blossomed. Watching him play now, no one could guess that he told his parents he wanted to stop taking lessons after the first week! Yet, with encouragement from them, he persisted.

Arlington’s study of classical music was later combined with jazz studies in college. He went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree from Southwest Texas State University in music, composition, arranging, performance, theory, and jazz studies. His main jazz music influences are Oscar Peterson and Duke Ellington. Claude Debussy is his favorite classical composer. Arlington expresses, “When I began taking piano lessons, I never imagined music would affect me in the way that it has. Playing music has become my destiny, my responsibility, my aspiration.”

His soulful style, lush harmonies, and impeccable groove are what he is known for. Whether performing solo or with his band, Arlington Jones & The Brethren, he has the gift to take listeners of all ages on an unforgettable journey – a contagious toe-tapping, finger-snapping, hand-clapping, head-bobbing experience! Not only is he pleasing to listen to but also exhilarating to watch! Right through each note, Arlington exudes energy from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet! Notable for always being dapper, he matches vintage threads and contemporary fashion with his eclectic tie and sneaker collection.

Over the years, Arlington has distinguished himself as a successful independent recording artist, composer, and producer under his label Zamaria Records. His music reveals the history of traditional and modern jazz, influenced by ragtime, stride, classical, blues, Latin, funk, and sacred styles. He has multiple album recordings and piano music books. He branded his own jazz piano techniques book, master class, and music web series entitled The Way I Hear It™. Arlington is a Steinway Artist. He tours internationally and has shared the stage with many music artists and groups. He contracts commissioned works, specializing in jazz piano concertos and modern sacred choral pieces.

Performing around the world provides a constant outlook on the music industry and helps him relate to music students and aspiring musicians. Arlington has years of experience as an educator, clinician, adjudicator, and guest lecturer in all levels of elementary, secondary, and higher education. He partners with a variety of music education programs, schools, universities, and organizations. He uses his innovative hands-on teaching techniques to educate piano students, other instrumentalists, and composers of all ages and genres. He created a special interactive presentation for kids called I Can Improvise™ Youth Concert, a fun way to learn about song form, improvisation, music history, and concert etiquette.

Between tour dates, Arlington is involved with arts and jazz preservation programs. He is currently the Artistic Director for the Sammons Jazz Program at the Sammons Center for the Arts in Dallas, Texas. He helped to spearhead the Dallas Jazz Appreciation Month committee. He serves on the Advisory Committee for the Cedar Valley College Music Department. His contributions in the arts and music education communities have led to great awards and acknowledgements.

Arlington seeks to promote the preservation and appreciation of music as an art form by pairing energetic live performances with music education and history. He is devoted to the enrichment and empowerment of musicians and their families through master classes, clinics, workshops, and literature. Most importantly, Arlington is dedicated to creating music that speaks life to the hearts, minds, and souls of people around the world – music that will evoke joy, hope, faith, peace, healing, and love for all generations and cultures!

Arlington and his wife, Hope, have a daughter, Christian, and a son, Arlington III. Together they have founded The Music Stand, a nonprofit organization. He and his family live in Arlington, Texas.

Randy Jacobs, a San Francisco native raised in Detroit, embarked on his music career at the tender age of 13. He started by working with Motown's renowned writers, producers, and artists, gaining experience while developing his unique no-plectrum playing style.

One of Jacobs' early breakthroughs was co-authoring the Top-Five R&B hit, "Wide Receiver," alongside former Miles Davis bassist and singer Michael Henderson. His journey continued with Was (Not Was), where he co-authored the Top-Ten hit "Walk the Dinosaur." Jacobs also played a pivotal role in Soul Mission, a gospel R&B project featuring artists like Tata Vega, Mavis Staples, Booker T. Jones, and Steve Cropper, releasing a record for Sony/Epic Records.

In 1994, Randy Jacobs established his own band, The Boneshakers, where he expressed his fusion of funk, blues, R&B, rock, and soul. He released several albums, including Book of Spells and Shake the Planet featuring Sweetpea Atkinson on vocals.

Jacobs expanded his horizons by collaborating on the critically acclaimed I-10 Chronicles series and the Bill and Bonnie Hearn project. In 2005, he ventured into jazz-influenced solo instrumental music with From Me To You featuring notable artists.

Now, with his latest release, The Return Of Randy Dynamite, Jacobs explores his instrumental music capabilities further. He revisits songs from his high school years and combines them with new compositions. The album, recorded live in the studio, showcases a talented lineup, including Gregg Bissonette on drums, Jervonni Collier on bass, Jon Gilutin on keys, and percussionist Lenny Castro. Renowned musicians like Rick Braun, Teddy Zig Zag, Paul Shilt's Weimar and others contribute to the album's vibrant sound.

Randy Jacobs' illustrious career has seen him collaborate with a diverse range of artists, from Robbie Williams to B.B. King, reflecting his versatility and unwavering passion for music.

Surprising is the word that perhaps best describes GRAMMY® nominated, Downbeat cover artist, and winner of the International Songwriting Competition, Thana Alexa, an extraordinarily creative force in music. An awe-inspiring vocalist, composer, arranger, and producer – for whom the voice is both a lyrical and experimental instrument – her music pushes the boundaries of the genre into new and unexplored territory with deep seeded roots in jazz and overtones of contemporary soul and world music.

Regina Carter, violinist, recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Award and Doris Duke Award says, "Thana isn't afraid to take risks. Her vocal performances are powerful, vulnerable, joyful, spiritual and genuine. Her use of rhythm, textures and intricate harmonies is unique and at times, complex. Sometimes you think you know where she is going, then she SURPRISES you."

Alexa’s 2x GRAMMY® nominated album ONA (self-release, March 2020), is her focus, her mission statement. Translated to "SHE" from her family's native Croatian, ONA was inspired by the cross generational and cross-cultural stories of the immigrant women in her family and evolved into an exploration of the experiences of contemporary women everywhere. Its premise crystalized in 2017 after her attendance at the Women's March on Washington, D.C. after which she was inspired to learn more about the stories of the women in her own family and the influences that their life experiences have had on her own existence, growth and sense of freedom. The album speaks to us musically about every facet of womanhood, conveying a message of strength and empowerment.

Singer and composer Becca Stevens said, “Thana Alexa’s ONA is an exquisite work embodying boundless creativity and genre that stretches to every corner of the Earth, and the imagination. ONA is a story of strength, authenticity, and the deeply grounding nature of the divine feminine.”

ONA has spawned more female-focused projects: Alexa, together with GRAMMY® nominated artist, Nicole Zuraitis and first-call bassist, Julia Adamy formed SONICA, a dynamic trio that incorporates intricate vocal harmonies, electronics, vocal loops, percussion, electric bass, and keyboards over a blend of original music and modern arrangements. The trio’s self-titled debut album, fully engineered, produced and mixed by Thana Alexa was released on September 30, 2022 via Outside In Music. Alexa also created the project Founding Mothers of Jazz in conjunction with MusicTalks Concerts to celebrate and honor the powerhouse women who helped build the jazz genre from the ground up, many of whom are not historically recognized for their contributions because of their gender.

During the 2020 Coronavirus lockdown, Alexa made headlines as a co-founder of what Rolling Stone called the first “virtual jazz festival” and fundraising initiative, Live From Our Living Rooms. Over the course of their three series (including a partnership with the DC Jazz Festival to present their FromHome series), Alexa, together with co-founders Owen Broder and Sirintip, contracted over 120 artists, raised over $140,000, and helped facilitate grants to over 80 US based musicians in need. Live From Our Living Rooms received attention from Rolling Stone, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, the BBC, and more.

The New York Times has called Thana, "a jazz singer with a global perspective," and Billboard has said, "Thana Alexa stood out...something entirely new, evocative and exhilarating."

Perhaps Alexa’s most important and ongoing collaboration has been with her husband, five-time GRAMMY® winner Antonio Sanchez (composer for the Oscar winning Birdman film and drummer with Pat Metheny for 20 years). Together with his band Migration they have recorded three critically acclaimed albums and have toured worldwide throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Alexa also sings lead vocal in the live production of Sanchez's newest project, Bad Hombre, which features the music of 12 guest artists who appear on his album, including Trent Reznor, Dave Matthews, Meshell Ndegeocello, Lila Downs, Kimbra, Silvana Estrada, Thana Alexa, her trio SONICA and others. The album, SHIFT (Bad Hombre Vol. II) was released on August 26, 2022 on Warner Music.

Alexa was musical from a very early age. She began playing violin at the age of 4 and by 12 was first chair in the Stamford Youth Symphony. She had ambitions to become a classical violinist. At 13, she moved with her family to Croatia and was challenged by learning a new language and by the cultural change of living in Europe. It was in Croatia that she discovered her voice, taking lessons with a voice teacher who introduced her to the music of jazz, blues and soul. At 16, she was discovered by world class jazz vibraphonist Bosko Petrovic, who is credited with bringing jazz to Croatia and who was her mentor until she returned to the U.S. for college.

Alexa graduated from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and Eugene Lang College with dual bachelor’s degrees in jazz and contemporary music and psychology, respectively. During her time at the New School she was mentored by legendary drummer Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, who encouraged her to start composing and arranging for his ensemble. Alexa also became one of the first vocalists to involve herself in the New School's instrumental ensembles, quickly making a name for herself as an instrumental vocalist willing to explore the full range of the human voice. Professors Billy Harper, Jane Ira Bloom, Reggie Workman, Kate Baker and Richard Harper all supported her on her mission as she began to experience her voice and music from the standpoint of an instrumentalist rather than a one-dimensional singer, which informed the compositions for her first album. That was the first surprise in what would be many surprises to come.

"As musicians, we have an incredible ability to reach people through art." Alexa said. "If you're making art it has to say something. Every turning point in the history of the world has involved art and artists connected to the movements of change. I want to be part of that."