Chris Botti gets swept up with Earth, Wind & Fire

Funk legends Earth, Wind & Fire have laid out plans for a summer tour behind their latest album, last year's "Illumination," and will bring along jazz trumpeter Chris Botti to open the shows.

The tour gets underway with a July 18 show in Boston, and stops in about 20 cities are scattered into early September. Botti will also tackle a number of his own headlining dates during his off days from the EWF tour, and is scheduled to remain on the road by himself through at least mid-October. The itineraries for both tours are included below.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Earth, Wind & Fire offered up "Illumination" last September. The disc, which follows 2003's "The Promise," features a list of guest performers that includes Outkast's Big Boi and The Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am. Super-producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis also had a hand in some of the set, which debuted at No. 32 on The Billboard 200 album chart, marking the highest debut position in the group's history.

Core EWF members Maurice White (founder, co-producer)--who no longer tours with the band--his brother Verdine White (bass), Ralph Johnson (percussion) and Philip Bailey (vocals) recorded the album backed by additional musicians.

Botti's new album, "To Love Again," landed in stores last October. The set features vocals from Sting, Paula Cole, Michael Buble, Jill Scott, Paul Buchanan, Gladys Knight, Renee Olstead, Rosa Passos and Steven Tyler.

The London Session Orchestra backs Botti on the disc, which also features four instrumental cuts.

Columbia issued "To Love Again" in regular audio-CD format, as well as in DualDisc format. The latter features footage shot during the making of the album, as well as interviews, studio performances and more, according to the label.