Chris Botti isn’t very concerned with record sales (he surpassed the 3 million mark worldwide a few years ago) or winning Grammy Awards (after several nominations, he nabbed his first in 2013 for Best Pop Instrumental Album).
Botti’s mind is on his audience.
“How many people come see me again when I return to a city? That’s how I’m going to gauge my career until I quit playing,” he says. “If the audience feels emotional impact, they come back.”
They attend show after show.
“Having the show connect with people is the most important thing to me; it’s something I can feel,” Botti explains. “It’s an odd time for the record business but the opportunity to move people with music is still there.”
The 51-year-old plays the crossover card, where smooth, instrumental jazz collides with R&B, rock and even country. And his reputation as a professional with unlimited talent, in the small community that is the music biz, allows Botti to take the versatility thing a step further by utilizing special guest musicians. His most recent release Impressions features everyone from Andrea Bocelli to Vince Gill. That record is already two years old, but Botti doesn’t feel the need to stray from his current 300 shows per year schedule in order to get back into the studio anytime soon. It’s simply not as satisfying as listening to his music in person.
“Is it difficult to have a plant, a dog, a cat or a family?” Botti asks. “Yes, that part of my life has suffered greatly, but I get nourished greatly by the audience coming to the shows. I always try to keep an eye on the fact that the odds of this happening were so rare.”
Botti is referring to his international stardom, which didn’t happen until he was in his 40s. He doesn’t take any of it for granted and feels a strong connection to all the young musicians out there trying to make it.
“In a way, I want to give [young musicians] a hug because their path is going to be much more difficult than mine because the landscape has changed so much,” Botti says. “You need an even stronger stomach to do this these days; it’s a crazy world in terms of how people ingest the arts and nurture young talent.”
Proceeds from both Botti’s performances will go to Youth Arts Collective and MPUSD’s instrument purchase program.
“When I meet young musicians I congratulate them on their courage to want to play,” Botti says. “You can get into it to become a star but you’re investing something in your life that’s so much more important.”
CHRIS BOTTI performs at 6pm (sold out) and 9pm Saturday, March 22, at Hyatt Regency, 1 Old Golf Course Road, Monterey. $85; $115; $150. 925-855-1736.