Talk about a range of admirers.
Everyone from Frank Sinatra to Sting to Oprah to the executives at television channel QVC has marveled at the musical talents of critically acclaimed, Grammy-nominated trumpeter Chris Botti.
“Chris is one of the hottest talents in the music industry today,” said Kim Maguire, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer for QVC, which televised a Botti concert from their studio. That is why “QVC [invited] Chris to share his musical gifts with our customers.”
But don?t lump Botti in with older, easy-listening audiences. Far from it. Botti, speaking from his tour bus somewhere between Texarkana and Orlando, Fla., has performed with everyone from Gladys Knight to Sting and on venues ranging from the aforementioned QVC to stages around the world to events hosted by Oprah. Still, despite his A-list group of admirers, Botti earns his fans the old-fashioned way by taking his band on the road for 11 months each year, playing everything from “When I Fall in Love” to “Pennies from Heaven.”
“In rock they have a six-month tour and take a bunch of time off. We just go,” he said. “We mix it up each night. We?ll have people come up and say, ?Wow, I saw the set last night and tonight?s was completely different.? ”
Each night?s set depends more than anything, on how Botti feels the melody on his trumpet. “It?s kind of an ebb and flow thing,” he said.
The hard work isn?t that surprising considering that when Botti was only 11, he set out to emulate his hero, jazz legend Miles Davis. “The thing about my personality now is no different than when I was 11,” he said. “I was always very, very passionate and very goal-oriented.”
Want proof? For almost three years, Botti kept a journal of his daily practice sessions. He fell short of practicing every day of those years by just a few days.
So after playing for Frank Sinatra, Sting, and other musical luminaries, are there any goals left?
“My ultimate goal is to keep improving as a trumpet player,” he said. “I know it sounds like a cliche, but I play so much better than I did 10 or 20 years ago. I look forward to where I am in the future.”
IF YOU GO
» Performer: Chris Botti
» Venue: Lyric Opera House
140 W. Mount Royal Ave.
» Time: 8 p.m.
» Date: Sunday, Jan. 21
» Tickets: $20 to $48
www.ticketmaster.com
410-547-SEAT (7328)
