TJR reflects on Geoff Emerick's legacy

Watch TJR's reflection of the life and legacy of engineer Geoff Emerick, best known for his work on many of The Beatles' most groundbreaking recording sessions.

NAMM Show: In-depth discussion featuring TJR, Robert Kinsler and photographer Bob Steshetz

Watch the in-depth look at the 2018 NAMM Show featuring TJR, Robert Kinsler and Bob Steshetz videotaped during the event.

The discussion ranges from some key performances and artist sightings to new instruments introduced at the music show:

NAMM 2018: Harmony returns with new guitars and amps

When it comes to style and music making, what's old is definitely new again.

Look no further than the NAMM Show that rolled into Anaheim last month. Bandlab Technologies is relaunching Harmony Guitars (once the single largest manufacturer of musical instruments in the United States) in 2018 with three new electric guitars and an amp reissue. 

The decidedly retro-minded guitars that made their debut at NAMM were Rebel, Silhouette and Jupiter. All three models (seen in the image above) sport Gold Foil pickups, alder bodies, custom cupcake knobs, locking tuners and other essential features. While all three models are based on the original Harmony guitars, the Jupiter and Rebel are now solidbody instruments instead of semi-hollowbody.

In related news, the company's newly-unveiled a range of Harmony combo amps, cabs and heads, and will reissue the classic 8418 Harmony amp. 

"We're embracing the past; bringing it forward and have made it relevant for the modern player," said Lauren Hendry Parsons, Senior Manager, Communications & Partnerships for Bandlab Technologies.

The new guitars and amps are scheduled to be available to the public beginning this summer.

Robert Kinsler

She Rocks Awards 2018 Celebrates Outstanding Women in Music

Photo credit: Ron Lyon

NAMM 2018: The Sixth Annual She Rocks Awards Celebrates Outstanding Women in the Music Industry

Melissa Etheridge, members of The B-52s, and many other musicians and audio industry professionals honored at prestigious event

Melissa Etheridge on Jan. 26, 2018.
Photo credit: Brandon Daza

Exene Cervenka of the band X.
Photo credit: Kevin Graft

Anaheim, CA, January 29, 2018 ––The sixth annual She Rocks Awards rocked the House of Blues Anaheim on January 26, 2018. Hosted by the Women’s International Music Network (the WiMN), the gala celebration featured a star studded array of honorees that included Melissa Etheridge, Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson of The B-52s, Exene Cervenka of X and members of the pioneering all-female rock band Fanny, as well many other women from all corners of the music and audio industry.

Featured performers Command Sisters delivered an upbeat B-52s medley that had the house singing along. The evening also included the premiere of a new song by WiMN founder Laura B. Whitmore and recording artist Jenna Paone called, “Just a Girl,” along with a moving video that delivered a message encouraging girls to dream big. Laura B. Whitmore co-hosted along with Kat Corbett of LA radio station KROQ. 

Other highlights included a fantastic performance of the Etheridge hit “Come to My Window” by Laura Clapp, and Olivia Rox’s rendition of the Pat Benatar anthem “Invincible.” Alaska Reid of Alyeska interpreted X’s hit “Breathless” with sultry abandon. Members of the pioneering rock band Fanny shared their new project, Fanny Walked the Earth, with a preview of their upcoming 2018 release.

The rousing finale brought together members of Fanny, The B-52s, Melissa Etheridge and performers Olivia Rox, Jenna Paone, Laura Clapp and Sabrina Lentini to deliver an inspired performance of “Respect.” The song, made famous by Aretha Franklin, but written by Otis Redding (whose daughter, Karla Redding-Andrews, was also honored during the event), was an energetic ending to a moving evening. 

The full list of 2018 honorees includes:

•    Pat Benatar, four-time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist
•    Melissa Etheridge, Grammy® Award- and Academy® Award-winning artist
•    The B-52s Katie Pierson & Cindy Wilson, original members of one of the most
      beloved party rock bands of all time
•    Karla Redding-Andrews, Executive Director for The Otis Redding Foundation
•    Exene Cervenka, vocalist for the iconic punk band, X 
•    Amberly Crouse-Knox, Senior Director, Creative and Business Development, BMG Production Music
•    Jean Millington Adamian, June Millington, Brie Howard Darling, Patti Quatro Ericson and         Alice de Buhr of the pioneering all-female American rock band, Fanny
•    Candace Stewart, Studio Manager, EastWest Studios in Hollywood
•    Dawn Birr, Channel Manager for the Americas, Sennheiser Business Solutions 
•    Fabi Reyna, Founder and Editor of She Shreds Media
•    Vanessa Mering, Marketing Manager, HARMAN Professional
•    Kristy Porter, Guitar Center’s Director of Merchandising, General Accessories & Media

Whitmore reflected, “We were proud to formally recognize all the 2018 honorees at the She Rocks Awards. From manufacturers to musicians, our honorees span all corners of our industry. I felt truly humbled to be able to acknowledge their leadership and accomplishments. It was such a pleasure to join with them in this year’s celebration of women in music.”

Find out more at sherocksawards.com.

2018 NAMM Show Roundup

The NAMM Show was held at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Article by Robert Kinsler

Photography: Bob Steshetz and Robert Kinsler


Special concert events, under-the-radar on-site performances in merchant booths, the debut of countless new music making-related products and educational sessions make the NAMM Show an essential destination for music lovers.

This year's Winter NAMM Show was held at the Anaheim Convention Center from January 25-28, 2018, with this writer also attending the NAMM Media Preview Day on Jan. 24 to get an early and in-depth look at several highly-anticipated products. 

Here are some of the highlights of my four-day experience at NAMM last weekend.

Concerts and Special Appearances
A couple of decades ago, on-site performances at NAMM were not a focus of the event held every January. But once again this year performances were front-and-center throughout the show.

Andy Grammer performs at NAMM.

The Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage hosted three special high-profile concerts during NAMM. OK Go performed on Jan. 25; an all-star event featuring Michael McDonald, Melissa Etheridge, Marc Broussard, Nathan East, Dave Koz, Butch Walker, Lindsey Stirling, Shelea and others on Jan. 26, and Andy Grammer performed on Jan. 27. 

Brandon "Taz" Niederauer

Those looking for more intimate concert experiences could catch established and up-and-coming artists in booths throughout the show. My favorite event may well have been the mind-blowing performance featuring 14-year-old Brandon "Taz" Niederauer and his excellent four-member band. Performing on Friday afternoon at the D'Angelico Guitars, Niederauer displayed the flashy speed of the late Ten Years After guitar great Alvin Lee with the emotional touch of modern-day bluesman Gary Clark Jr. I have seen young guitarists impress before but Niderauer's virtuoso licks, burgeoning talents as singer and songwriter as well as bona fide stage presence rival many of his considerably-older contemporaries. His wonderful songs included "I Can't Live" (a moody, textured blues rock gem) and "Tell Me Now."

I was lucky enough to catch singer-songwriter/guitar greats Shawn Jones and Stephen Inglis performing together at the Lowden Guitars booth on Saturday. Their short and fiery instrumental set ended with a freewheeling instrumental version of the Jimi Hendrix classic "Little Wing." While at the Lowden booth, I also got to check out and was truly impressed with the Northern Ireland-based company's new GL-10 Electric Guitar. Information: www.lowdenguitars.com.

Miyavi tearing it up at Taylor
Guitars on Jan. 27, 2018.

Taylor Guitars offered a number of must-see concerts. On Thursday, the El Cajon, California-based guitar manufacturer celebrated three emerging Japanese artists. Ai Fujimori, CJ Li and Natsumi Miki showcased the diversity of Japan's burgeoning original music scene and the audience packed into the intimate concert space embraced the three artists and the terrific backing trio of young players who added depth to the material. 

Fast forward to Saturday and I caught three outstanding acts at Taylor Guitars. Country music songstress Brennley Brown, who just turned 16, and Nolan Neal (both one-time contestants on NBC-TV's "The Voice") delivered strong sets in the early afternoon, while genre-defying Japanese singer-songwriter-guitarist Miyavi wowed a packed room with his finger-slapping style of guitar and intoxicating songs, especially the driving rocker "The Others." Information: www.TaylorGuitars.com.

Carl Tosten with FG-TA Yamaha.

NEW PRODUCTS: Guitars aplenty

Yamaha TransAcoustic FG and FS Guitar Series
Yamaha introduced approximately 90 new products at Winter NAMM this year. The Buena Park, California-based company's TransAcoustic guitar series definitely offers something to get acoustic players excited. Building on the success of the company's earlier models, the new FG-TA and FS-TA puts cutting edge technology into the guitar for an affordable price (the FG-TA is priced at $599). "The guitar is able to create reverb and chorus without any external devices," explained Yamaha's Carl Tosten. "It is designed to inspire people to want to play longer." 

Yamaha introduced approximately 90 new products at Winter NAMM, and the new TansAcoustic models were getting plenty of attention throughout the show. My MUSIC WORTH BUYING co-host TJR and I videotaped several segments at the Yamaha booth and will be posting those on this website soon. 

Cal Campbell holding Ovation's
the Glen Campbell 2018
American Artist Model guitar.

Ovation Guitars / Two Glen Campbell Signature Guitar Models
While country music legend Glen Campbell passed away in August 2017, his legacy lives on in ways that stretch beyond his notable recordings. Fans of the late artist's legendary skills on the fret board got an early look at two special signature guitar models released by Ovation Guitars that made their debut at NAMM this year. Campbell's son Cal Campbell was at NAMM to share the release of the Glen Campbell 2018 American Artist Model, an acoustic guitar crafted in the Ovation Custom Shop in New Hartford, CT. 

"This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the creative relationship between Ovation's founder, Bill Kaman, and my dad," said Cal Campbell in a statement released by Ovation. "Growing up, his guitars were a fixture in our lives and it has been a pleasure to work with the artisans at Ovation to ensure the look and the sound of his original gars was faithfully recreated and it's our family's hope that they will inspire future generations of artists to play, write and create for another half century and beyond."

Perhaps even more prized than Glen Campbell's acoustic instrument was the elusive "Bluebird" model. Designed and hand-crafted exclusively for Campbell in the late 1970s, the Bluebird's design was based on the Ovation Viper solid body and was produced in both 6-string and 12-string models. The Campbell family loaned Ovation Guitars Glen's original Bluebird to the guitar maker in order to create the extremely limited run of Bluebird replicas (only 10 of the 6-string models and five of the 12-string models will ever be produced!).

Information: www.ovationguitars.com.

Eric Johnson at the Fender booth at NAMM.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation 
Eric Johnson Stratocaster® Thinline
Virtuoso guitarist Eric Johnson was at NAMM on Jan. 26 to showcase the latest edition of his Eric Johnson Signature Stratocaster Thinline. At an afternoon press conference, Johnson explained he began working with Fender in 2015 to co-create a new guitar that combined the tones of his favorite semi-hollowbody guitars and his Stratocaster. "To me, my go-to instrument is a Strat. But I've always loved hollow body guitars," Johnson explained. "I used it (the new Thinline guitar) last night (at the City National Grove of Anaheim) and I used it all night." Johnson's new guitar will officially be available on Feb. 20, 2018 and will retail for approximately $1,999.99.

Paul Waller: Prestige 9-Neck Guitar
No overview of new guitars spotted at NAMM would be complete without a mention of Paul Waller's Prestige 9-Neck Guitar featuring nine popular pre-CBS models and scales Fender produced before 1965. Necks featured include those from a four-string mandolin, Mustang, Jaguar, Telecaster, Stratocaster, Jazzmaster, Bass VI, Jass Bass and Precision Bass. It retails for $96,000 (yikes!). See the photo I snapped on the left; in this case, seeing is believing.

Information: www.fender.com.



INNOVATIONS
In addition to the impressive guitars I checked out at NAMM, several other products caught my attention. Stillwater, MN-based Portastand has a line of music stands that are the most impressive I've ever seen. They are not only portable and collapse into small sizes, but are durable and have the ability to serve a variety of roles on stage, in the studio or even around the office. Visit Portastand.com for more information.

Studio engineers and audiophiles should check out the Tascam DA-6400 Recorder. I met with Eric Larsen, director of marketing for Montebello, CA-based TEAC America, Inc., and I was simply blown away at the relatively small size and impressive power of the unit. It can record 64 channels of audio at 24-bit/48kHz, or 32 channels at 24-bit/96kHz! For more information visit www.teac.com or www.tascam.com.

Jim Stern, of Phoenix-based Earful Mastering, at
the Tascam booth at 2018 NAMM Show.
Photo: Robert Kinsler

Jim Stern, with Phoenix-based Earful Mastering, was at the Tascam booth and explained the many wonders of how the Tascam equipment enhances the dynamic range of recordings and reduces the compression that diminishes many modern-day recordings.

"I built a 1bit mastering lab (in Arizona). I can go 1bit to analog and back to 1bit," he explained. "1bit is as close to analog as we have come in digital...I'm an old audiophile and I love it. I love Tascam equipment."


For more information on NAMM, visit www.namm.org.



A very special "thank you" to Bob Steshetz for the use of his wonderful photography

NAMM Show update: OK Go, Andy Grammer, Melissa Etheridge, Vanessa Carlton, Jackson Browne, Jesse Hughes & more

Held annually at the Anaheim Convention Center, NAMM (an acronym for the International Music Products Association's previous name) runs January 24 - 28, 2018, and is expected to draw approximately 100,000 attendees from around the globe. Here is a media release with an early glimpse at some highlights coming to the event this month...Robert Kinsler

Anaheim Convention Center will host the annual NAMM Show later this month.
Photo courtesy of Bob Steshetz

THE 2018 NAMM SHOW & MEDIA PREVIEW DAY AT ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER JANUARY 24 – 28, 2018 Music instruments, technology news and reveals from over 7,000 music brands, celebrity appearances, interactive demos, live concerts OK Go, Andy Grammer, Vanessa Carlton, Jackson Browne, Yamaha Artists, Melissa Etheridge, Pat Benatar, B52’s Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson, Jesse Hughes
WHAT:	The NAMM Show – the global crossroads of the music products, pro audio and sound, and event technology industries, presented by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM).
SCHEDULE:	Wednesday, 1/24, 4-6PM – NAMM Show Media Preview Day by invitation-only. Get credentials before The NAMM Show opens; preview new musical instruments and technology releases. Just announced and set to be included as part of the Media Preview Day is an appearance by Cal Campbell, son of famed artist Glen Campbell. 2018 marks the 50th Anniversary of Glen Campbell’s iconic “1627” original, Ovation Guitars artist model. To mark the occasion, Ovation Guitars has released the Glen Campbell 2018 American Artist Model which features a high-end, torrefied spruce top which gives this USA-made model a vintage, “played-in” look, increases durability and lends a brand new guitar increased “openness,” and improves tone and responsiveness. Cal Campbell will be at the event to showcase the new 2018 model. Crafted in the Ovation Custom Shop located in New Hartford, CT, the Glen Campbell 2018 American Artist Model also features an engraved, ebony truss rod cover and a custom, mid-depth bowl which was built to the exact specifications of Campbell’s original artist guitar which he personally helped design and immediately became a best seller when it was originally released in 1968. Get more details on this guitar here. The Glen Campbell Signature Model / Photo Credit Rob Shanahan Location: Anaheim Convention Center Idea Center, Hall C Lobby. Complimentary parking in the new ACC North building (enter off West Katella Ave). Map HERE. Contact: NAMM@lippingroup.com. Participating companies listed at bottom of this alert.     Thursday – Saturday, 1/25-1/27, 10AM-6PM; Sunday, 1/28, 10AM-5PM – *The NAMM Show –Business leaders, musicians, celebrities and media from around the world and over 500 Education Panels & Sessions from NAMM U and NAMM education partners A3E, AES, TEC Tracks, The Pro Production Sessions, Dante Training and Certification. Full schedule HERE. Highlights also include artist-related panels: Eagles of Death Metal’s Jesse Hughes; Concert producer Kevin Lyman of Warped Tour Fame; Tom Petty Crew Reunion Panel; Grammy Award-winning engineer, mixer and producer Andrew Scheps; Birth of a Record: Jackson Browne's 1977 "Running on Empty." Location: Anaheim Convention Center & surrounding hotels. Park HERE at Angel Stadium and utilize complimentary media shuttle. Contact: NAMM@lippingroup.com. *The NAMM Show is not open to the public. OK Go / Photo credit: Makoto Kubota Thursday, 1/25, Friday, 1/26, Saturday, 1/27 – The NAMM Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage Performances – All performances begin at 6PM OK Go (Thurs.); Yamaha All-Star Concert on the Grand with artists to-be-announced (Fri.); The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus Presents The 2018 Imagine Party featuring Andy Grammer (Sat.). Location: Grand Plaza Stage between Hilton / Marriott hotels; Contact NAMM@lippingroup.com Andy Grammer Friday, 1/26, 6:30PM – The 2018 She Rocks Awards – As part of NAMM events, honoring women for contributions and leadership within the music industry, including Melissa Etheridge, Pat Benatar,B52’s Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson. Tickets available here.  Location: House of Blues, Anaheim. Parking: House of Blues. Contact: leslie@mad-sun.com Melissa Etheridge will be honored on January 26 at the She Rocks Awards. Photo: Bob Steshetz Friday, 1/26,  7:30PM – The Parnelli Awards – The Industry’s Highest Honor for Live Event Professionals – Tickets available here. Location: Hilton Anaheim Hotel’s Pacific Ballroom. Parking available at Hotels and nearby locations. Contact: NAMM@lippingroup.com Saturday, 1/27,  9:00AM – Grand Rally for Music Education. Presented by The NAMM Foundation to honor music education champions and advocates. Also featuring FORTE, Vanessa Carlton, Bernie Williams, Manhattan School of Music Electronic Jazz Ensemble. Location: Anaheim Hilton, California Ballroom CD (Level 2). Park HERE at Angel Stadium and utilize complimentary media shuttle. Contact: NAMM@lippingroup.com Saturday, 1/27, 5:30PM – Roomful of Pianos, a Lounge 88 Event – Grand finale event featuring 50+ pianists that will be playing the same song in unison. Location: Anaheim Convention Center, Lounge 88 (Level 3 Ballroom). And, the piano that was in Ford Theatre the night President Lincoln was shot will be shown in the Lounge, its first-ever showcase of piano at a NAMM event. Contact: NAMM@lippingroup.com Saturday, 1/27, 7:00PM – NAMM TEC AWARDS – Hosted by Comedian Demetri Martin – Les Paul Innovation Award to Jackson Browne – Hall of Fame to The Section, and the best of winners in professional audio and sound production excellence. Limited press seating available. Contact:NAMM@lippingroup.com. For a list of NAMM Show events and performances throughout the Anaheim Convention Center, surrounding hotels and concerts, visit https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/2018/events/schedule.
WHERE:	The NAMM Show – Anaheim Convention Center (800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92802) & surrounding hotels Media Preview Day Exhibiting Companies Include: 3Dvarius; 64 Audio; Adam Hall Group; Antares Audio Technologies; BandLab; Beyerdynamic, Inc.; Bittree Patchbays; BOSE Corporation;  BOSS; Casio America, Inc.; C.F. Martin & Co./Martin Guitar; Chroma Coda; D’Addario; D’Angelico Guitars; dBTechnologies; Deering Banjo Co.; Earthquaker Devices; Enhancia; Fender Music Instrument Corporation; German Light Products; Gretsch Drums; IK Multimedia; inMusic; Innovative Concepts & Design LLC; Kawai America Corporation; LAVA Guitars; Ludwig Drum Co.; McSwain Guitars; MXL Microphones; Ovation Guitars; PK Sound; Reverend Guitars; Roland; Schertler SA; SHIKUMI DESIGN, Inc.;  Sound Enhancement, LLC; Sound Techniques Ltd.; Spalt Instruments; ToneWoodAmp; Universal Audio; Walrus Audio; YAMAHA; Yudo Inc.; ZYLIA.

NAMM TEC Awards: Jackson Browne for Les Paul Award / The Section reunites for one night only

Pretty exciting news! I can't believe the 2018 Winter NAMM Show is only a month away! Back in 2011, I was honored when I got to chat briefly with Jackson Browne for The Orange County Register - you can see that article here.

Singer-Songwriter Jackson Browne to Receive 

Les Paul Innovation Award at 33^rd Annual NAMM TEC Awards

The Section to reunite for on-stage performance and will be inducted into

NAMM TEC Hall of Fame Saturday, January 27 at The NAMM Show

Carlsbad, Calif. (December 20, 2017) – The NAMM Foundation has announced that singer-songwriter Jackson Browne will receive the prestigious Les Paul Innovation Award at the 33^rd Annual NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards (NAMM TEC Awards), being held Saturday, January 27, 2018 in Anaheim, CA. The award is given on behalf of the Les Paul Foundation to honor individuals that have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of recording technology in the spirit of the famed audio pioneer, inventor and musician, Les Paul.

Browne has written and performed some of the most iconic and moving songs in popular music and has defined a genre of songwriting charged with honesty, emotion, and personal politics. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007. His debut album came out on David Geffen's Asylum Records in 1972. Since then, he has released fourteen studio albums and four collections of live performances, and has sold over 18 million albums in the U.S. Browne will be on tour in the spring of 2018. Tour dates can be found here.

“Jackson Browne’s success as a singer, songwriter and guitarist has had a prolific impression on the music industry throughout his successful career,” said Michael Braunstein, Executive Director of the Les Paul Foundation. “Like Les Paul, Jackson has never shied away from expressing his emotions or thoughts through his music. I have no doubt that Les would have liked to share a few jams with Jackson along the way.”

Dubbed the “Knights of Soft Rock” by Rolling Stone, The Section will also be honored during the evening event as the newest inductees to the NAMM TEC Hall of Fame. Reaching their height in the 70s playing alongside the biggest names in the business, including James Taylor, Carole King, and Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Section also released three of their own imprints and toured and recorded with Jackson Browne in earlier years. While no longer recording collectively, each artist now actively works in the studio and on tour and consists of Danny Kortchmar (guitar), Craig Doerge (keyboards), Leland Sklar (bass), and Russ Kunkel (drums). They’ll reunite on stage for a rare performance of some of their best-known hits in support of the evening’s celebration.

The NAMM TEC Hall of Fame award was started in 1988 to honor pioneers of audio technology, as well as the music industry’s most accomplished producers and audio technicians. In 2017, legendary Aerosmith engineer and producer Jack Douglas was inducted into the NAMM TEC Hall of Fame, and joined luminaries Skunk Baxter, Ed Cherney, Hal Blaine, Nathan East and others. 

The NAMM TEC Awards, held during the global gathering of music, sound and event technology at The NAMM Show, are bestowed annually in honor of the many individuals, companies and technical innovations used in sound recordings, films, broadcast television and video games. Nominees were announced earlier this year. Purchase tickets on site or in advance here FOR $65 (General Admission) or $195 (VIP). The show begins with a VIP-only reception at 6PM, followed by the awards ceremony at 7PM, held in the Hilton Anaheim Hotel’s Pacific Ballroom. Stand-up comedian and entertainer Demetri Martin will host the ceremony.

ABOUT THE TEC AWARDS

Presented annually by the NAMM Foundation during The NAMM Show, The NAMM TEC Awards recognizes the individuals, companies and technical innovations behind the sound of recordings, live performances, films, television, video games and other media in 23 Technical and 8 Creative Achievement Categories. The Les Paul Innovation Award is given at the event in tribute to musical artists and others whose work has exemplified the creative application of audio technology. Through its Hall of Fame, The TEC Awards also honors the pioneers of audio technology and the music industry’s most accomplished producers and audio technicians. The NAMM Foundation’s TECnology Hall of Fame celebrates innovations and ground breaking technical achievements of the past. For more information, visit www.tecawards.org