SINGAPORE: He may be one of the world’s most popular concert attractions but acclaimed trumpet player Chris Botti isn’t about to blow his own horn anytime soon.

The successful trumpet player, who was in town on the 20th May as part of the Singapore Mosaic Festival, started playing the trumpet as an act of rebellion against playing the piano.

“My mom wanted me to play the piano. And like a lot of kids, [I] started on the piano and found something else. Most kids go to the guitar and I was crazy enough to somehow think the trumpet was good and it resonated with me.”

With 10 solo albums already under his belt, Botti says his newest concept album, Italia, was heavily influenced by the late jazz musician Miles Davis.

And it comes as no surprise- Botti has had a special affinity towards the late Jazz musician.

He first heard of Miles Davis when he was twelve and it was the song “My Funny Valentine” that first got him hooked.

“It was that song and the sound of his trumpet, the way Miles played that made me want to be a trumpet player.”

Botti spent two years of his childhood in Italy, a place he says is enough to transport people there at just the mention of the country. It was for that reason that he decided to make Italian music the theme of his latest album which he says “has the same transporting quality”.

Although he’s well known for his hauntingly beautiful music, he’s quick to add that during performances, he and his band enjoy mixing in a few louder numbers. "It’s the variation that makes for an interesting night of show” he quips.

He’s worked with many big names in the business, from Andrea Bocelli to Rod Stewart, but Botti attributes his musical success to his long-standing relationship with Sting.

Botti toured with Sting as part of his Brand New World tour and says he’s grateful for the opportunity because it gave him a platform to launch his musical career.

The talented musician, is proud of his achievements and the sacrifices that are needed to make them happen. This includes not having a place to call his own.

“I live out of one 70 pound suitcase. I have my trumpet and my carry-on bag and my dysfunctional family, my band. And we just go on the road.”

Despite his transient lifestyle, Bottei is perfectly happy doing what he does.

“Two years ago I ended up purchasing a loft in New York that was formerly owned by Sting. And I was there for 15 days and the first day after I bought it, I called my tour manager and told him ‘This is a realization of a dream but, now I want to go back on the road.’ I'm really only happy playing in front of an audience and being out there because I worked so hard to get to this place.”

While Botti admits that it's more difficult for instrumental musicians to make a name for themselves, the upside he says is that the fans are less fickle.

"If you're able to be one of the very few jazz musicians that break through, then you can retain an audience through your whole life."

Although Botti isn’t planning on releasing anything new for another year and a half, he already has plans on doing more tours and a new DVD with the Boston Symphony this September.

-CNA/cl