An Evening with CHRIS BOTTI at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle, WA. January 14 through January 18, 2026.

An Evening with Chris Botti at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in Seattle, WA!

Wednesday January 14 through Sunday January 18, 2026

(Chris Botti at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley)

The Grammy award winning musician Chris Botti makes his much beloved return to Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley for a brand new residency for 2026. Shows are scheduled from Wednesday January 14th through Sunday January 18th. 7:30pm shows on each and every date with additional 9:30pm shows on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening.


I had a chance to ask Mr. Chris Botti a few questions ahead of his residency:


Eclectic Arts Media: My first question is how has your background coming from the great state of Oregon, Pacific Northwest, influenced your music and career?


Chris Botti: Well, I'm not sure if it's about being from the state of Oregon, but my mom was super into the notion that I would study trumpet with a great teacher. Early on, I was hooked up with Fred Sauter, who was the principal trumpet for the Oregon Symphony, and at a very young age he took me on as a student, and I'm forever grateful for that. I also think there's not a lot of distraction in Oregon, so I was very dedicated about practicing from a very early age, and I think it's partially because of my mom's influence on me and also the trumpet teacher Fred Sauter. On top of that, Ron Steen, who was instrumental in the jazz scene in Portland, took me under his wing and allowed me to play jazz in the clubs up in Portland.



Eclectic Arts Media: We are very thankful here in Seattle that you are returning to Dimitriou's Jazz Alley on January 14 to 18. What memories stand out from your many performances at this historic jazz club?


Chris Botti: Well, I've been playing Jazz Alley probably since 1997 and performed there many times. Not only do I love the layout, the actual sonics of the room are fantastic. I have so many great memories of shows there, highlighted by the staff and how great they make the band feel. I'm giving this interview to you from the most famous jazz club in New York City called the Blue Note, and Dimitriou's Jazz Alley has equally friendly, inviting staff, not only to our band but to the clientele that come in there to see music. It's such a beautiful club and they've been so wonderful to us over all these years, and we've all become friends with the staff, and I think that's important.



Eclectic Arts Media: What can a first-time attendee expect from one of your shows at your residency at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley?


Chris Botti: This is one of the most difficult questions for me to answer. I'm most proud of when someone comes to see the show for the first time; they'll come up to me after the show and say, "You know, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know it was going to be a whole production with full band, violinist, singers, and the show had classical music, jazz, and some pop music," etc. Then it morphs into people coming up and saying something along the lines of, "I've seen you now seventeen times and I love every show." They have to actually see it. The level of musicianship, the incredible artists.


In Seattle this year, we have vocalists Veronica Swift and John Splithoff, Caroline Campbell on violin, and the rhythm section is Lee Pearson on drums, Phil Norris on the bass, and Julian Pollack on the piano. Oh, and also one more thing: the return of guitarist Mark Whitfield, who's actually from the Seattle area. He was in my band for ten years and is now returning. He's played there many times. So if there are long-term fans, long-time fans of me, then of course you know Mark Whitfield; he'll be our special guest.


Stay tuned for more answers from the interview that will be published along with my show review during his residency.  

Tickets and show information:  HERE!


Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts Media

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