By Shelley Koppel

Entertainment writer

FORT PIERCE - Chris Botti switched from the piano to the trumpet when he was 9.

"The initial spark was watching Doc Severinsen," he said. "He was charismatic and flashy and I thought, 'that's a cool instrument.' Then Miles Davis touched me emotionally. Once I heard the haunting way he played, I was sold and captivated for life."

Today, the Grammy-winning trumpeter, who has performed with stars from Frank Sinatra to Sting, is one of the busiest musicians in the business. He brings his band to the Sunrise Theatre on Oct. 17 and he spoke recently about his long career.

Playing the trumpet is serious business for the artist.

"There's physicality to the trumpet which makes it like few instruments," he said. "You cannot take days off. You have to devote two, three hours a day to the trumpet. It's the only way to progress. It's more like being a ballet dancer. The muscles in the face and stomach and neck forget and it happens quickly. If I took a couple of days off, it would be treacherous. When you mess up on the trumpet, it's blatant."

Mr. Botti's music evokes what he calls "bitter heartbreak."

"Music can do many things," he said. "The music that stays with you is the music that breaks your heart, whether it's by Debussy, Ravel, Miles Davis or Sinatra. It's not depressing. It can be heart-breaking and filled with joy, like Chopin. It resonates. It should come to you and make you pause as the music wraps around you."

Mr. Botti was encouraged in his music by his parents, and especially his mother.

"My mom made practicing something I wanted to do," he said. "I'm not sure how she did it. She was not a stage mom. I tasted progress and then she let my focus and determination take over.

"My parents were able to allow me to follow my dream and drop out of college at the end to go on the road with Frank Sinatra."

He's been performing ever since, traveling these days with his core band, Billy Childs on piano, Billy Kilson on drums, Mark Whitfield on guitar and Robert Hurst on bass. He's very excited about the music they make.

"I'm really proud of what we've been able to accomplish," he said. "You can take any band in any genre and you'll not see a better band.

"More elusive is the humor that runs through the show. It's a night of entertainment. I engage the audience in conversation and make it part of the show. You don't find that in jazz. We show the personalities of the band. Bring your kids and leave the babysitter at home," he said.

Trumpeter Chris Botti appears at the Sunrise Theatre, 117 S. Second St., Fort Pierce, on Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $49. Call the box office at (772) 461-4775 or order online at www.sunrisetheatre.com.