Chris Botti Films Special at Wilshire Theatre in Los Angeles

What do you get when you combine a jazz trumpeter and his famous friends in music? You get a night full of great music and duets with the likes of Sting, Paula Cole, Paul Buchanan, and Gladys Knight.

Chris Botti recently filmed his latest DVD and PBS special at the Wilshire Theatre in Los Angeles.

On the coattails of one of his most successful albums, "When I Fall in Love," Botti recently released a duets album, "To Love Again." Jokingly, Botti stated that record execs asked him for an edgy album title. He came up with "So you're the b - -h that broke my heart."

Accompanied by his band, a full orchestra and a star-studded lineup that could set off red carpet photo frenzy, Botti performed an impeccable set to a sold out theatre.

Dressed in a well-tailored suit with a purple dress shirt underneath, Botti performed classics such as "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "When I Fall in Love."

Sting, first of the guest performers, lent his warm, soulful vocals on "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life." This former Police lead singer has a fairly long history with Botti. Botti first started out playing in Paul Simon's band, then joined Sting's band in 2000. These guys are best of friends, since it took Botti to have Sting come from Italy to participate in this taping.
Fairly absent from the mainstream, Paula Cole performed "My One and Only Love" with her angelic vocals, and Bert Bacharach joined on his composed "The Look of Love" on the piano with Cole.

Other guests included part-time CBS comedy "Still Standing" actress and part time Reprise/143 recording artist beauty Renee Olstead singing "Pennies in Heaven," Paul Buchanan on "Are You Lonesome Tonight" and one of Oprah's Legends, Gladys Knight, on "Lover Man."

One of the highlights of the night was Botti's performance of "My Funny Valentine." He went into the audience to do a predetermined serenade. During the second verse, Sting appeared on stage to add his spin to the song. He sang the lyrics "Your looks are laughable, unphotographable" while glazing upon Botti, which was very amusing to see.

Among the other highlights was drummer Billy Kilson's drum solo on "Why Not." Botti closed out the show with "Message in a Bottle" with Sting; this was the song that got the audience members out of their seats clapping and dancing.

Botti made a statement during his show about how American Idols give children the wrong idea about music. He talked about how parents should encourage their children to play instruments, or should take them to see an orchestra in concert.

If you can't make it out to your local theatre, "Live at the Wilshire" DVD will be released sometime in February, and the performance airing on PBS will be a part of the station's March pledge drive.