Acclaimed trumpeter Chris Botti 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, and more. He successfully crossed over from jazz renown to pop stardom — but his first album in more than a decade finds him crossing back. “Vol.1,” releasing in October from Blue Note Records, is in many ways a fresh start for the trumpeter. It is 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 said. “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.” He joins Dr. Alan Campbell this week on Watching America to talk about his career and his latest project. https://chrisbotti.com