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King of the Road
Chris Botti says he welcomes the chance to return to the intimacy of the Birchmere.
(By Fabrizio Ferri)
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"He calls me his evil younger brother," Botti jokes, quickly adding that "he's become family to me and, of anyone in the world, he's the one who's most responsible for my career and success."
This year Botti is setting his sights on developing his career overseas. As to home, he has none, the cost of doing 200 concerts a year and spending his days off traveling, recording and appearing on television.
He did try homeownership once, taking over Sting's Soho loft for about six months. But he sold it after realizing he had spent less than two weeks in the place.
"I'd bought it furnished and I sold it furnished," Botti says. "I literally took my one suitcase, one carry-on and my trumpet and walked out the door, and that's all I have."
Botti pauses for a moment, having just settled in to his hotel room with his suitcase, carry-on and trumpet case.
"I'm looking at everything I own right now. I have no storage locker, nothing. For a lot of people, it sounds kind of cool, but when they actually need to do that and want to have a picture of their family, or a relationship, or a cat or dog, they go, 'Oh, maybe I don't want to do this all the time.' There is a big kind of sacrifice to go on the road as much as we do, which is basically 365 days a year."
Especially tough when you're getting up at 5 or 6 in the morning to catch a flight to the next gig.
"I'm tired all the time," Botti confesses, though not wearily.
Those upcoming Birchmere dates? Rest stops on an endless tour.
Chris Botti Appearing Monday-Wednesday at the Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Shows start at 7:30. Tickets: $49.50; 202-397-7328, http:/
