The Associated Press
September 15, 2008

Chris Botti has a few surprises up his trumpet when he makes his debut with the Boston Pops this week at two concerts that are being taped for national broadcast next spring during PBS’ annual pledge drive.

The chart-topping trumpeter has enlisted a star-studded lineup for the Thursday and Friday night concerts at Boston’s Symphony Hall that reflect his genre-bending musical tastes from jazz and classical to rock and pop.

His touring band — with such jazz stalwarts as pianist Billy Childs, drummer Billy Kilson and guitarist Mark Whitfield — will be joined by Sting and his longtime guitarist Dominic Miller; Josh Groban; Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler; “American Idol” runner-up Katharine McPhee; cellist Yo-Yo Ma; violinist Lucia Micarelli; and a major pop vocal star who will make an unannounced surprise appearance.

“We’re going from classical music to jazz stuff from Miles Davis’ catalog to rock ‘n’ roll all within the span of a very, very short time with really legendary people,” Botti said in a telephone interview Monday from Boston.

“I don’t want to give away what they’re doing because a couple of them are big-time surprises…. The real fun stuff is taking these artists out of the arena that they’re normally heard in. It will be like, oh my goodness, I can’t believe I just heard Steven Tyler or Yo-Yo Ma do that…..”

“…..The musicians like Sting or Steven Tyler are all doing it for nothing. … These guys are doing it for the music,” said Botti. “The real reason we’re doing it is to support PBS and try to get music on television which television normally doesn’t cater to apart from rock `n’ roll and pop.”

Aero Force One
September 15, 2008

Joey and Tom have their cars for sale at Corvette Mike’s. Check ‘em out!

Joey’s Lotus: (here).

Tom’s Maserati:  (here).