When I attended NAMM 2019 as part of Agenda’s media team, I was able to interact with many of the artists that I cover as a music journalist during the year. At NAMM 2019 I had the opportunity to hear some outstanding music from Jonathan Butler at D’Angelico Guitars and veteran jazz saxophonists such as Kirk Whalum, Tom Scott, and Jeff Kashiwa at the NAMM 2019 Jam. I photographed Larry Dunn (EWF original member) as he performed at Casio, and interviewed Darrell Lavigne, the keyboardist of the B.B. King’s Blues Band. I visited the booths CASIO, Eastman Instruments, Cannonball Instruments, and Kiesel Guitars, where I was able to photograph some of the well-known artists that use these instruments.
Jonathan Butler at D’Angelico Guitars
During NAMM 2019, Jonathan Butler performed at D’Angelico Guitars on January 24th, 2019, with his quartet. The audience got a mini-concert as Butler played for about 45 minutes . . . and let me tell you, it was an outstanding set of music! Veteran bass player Darryl Williams performed with Butler and provided some serious funk to the superb music.
Larry Dunn at Casio
Larry Dunn, 7-time Grammy Award-winner performed at the Casio Booth on Friday, January 25, 2019. A huge crowd gathered around to hear Larry’s virtuoso and iconic sound on the keys, which rang through the room as multitudes watched and listened in awe to the keyboard legend and original EWF member/producer/songwriter. Singer Howard Johnson, best known for his hit “So Fine,” and member of Larry Dunn’s Anthology of Earth Wind & Fire group joined Larry with his soaring falsetto on “Reasons” and surprised us all! There were many other well-known musicians at the Casio Booth to see Larry Dunn perform, such as the legendary 2-time Grammy-nominated bassist Bunny Brunel, award-winning singer/flutist Kaylene Peoples, jazz bassist Kyle Eastwood, multi-instrumentalist Brian Culbertson, and so many more. We were treated to a unexpected, yet spectacular concert! (Video by Kraft)
Legere JAZZ JAM – NAMM 2019
Legere held their annual jazz jam at the Hilton Hotel on Friday, January 25th to commemorate celebrity reed players. The jam featured Kirk Whalum, Tom Scott, Jeff Kashiwa, Marcus Anderson, and Darren Rahn. These sax players delighted us with their incredible chops all night long, literally mesmerizing the audience with their dynamic playing.
As I walked around Eastman Instruments, I ran into legendary jazz multi-reed player Bennie Maupin, who has played with Herbie Hancock, Lee Morgan, Miles Davis, and Horace Silver; and he just happens to play an Eastman saxophone. Maupin is featured in the the documentary I Called Him Morgan.
Bob Mintzer of the Yellowjackets performed at the Eastman Booth. Mindi Abair, two-time Grammy-nominated sax player, who had never met Bennie Maupin was very excited to make the acquaintance of the veteran player.
At Cannonball Instruments, I ran into Patrick Lamb who regularly tours the the world or performs as the “saxophonist to the stars” with with Grammy winners and luminaries such as Gino Vannelli, Bobby Caldwell, Esperanza Spalding, Jeff Lorber Fusion, Tommy Thayer, Diane Schuur, Bobby Kimball, Alice Cooper, and Smokey Robinson, just to name a few.
“The Cannonball saxophones have a full, free blowing quality and construction that lends itself to work with me in how I naturally express myself. As an artist, an instrument that lets you be ‘you’ is a dream come true. This is what you look for, and you know it when you pick it up. After playing so many horns that just don’t quite do it on every level, you also really appreciate the craftsmanship, time, effort, science and continuing product development that has gone into these instruments.” – Patrick Lamb
NAMM 2019 was three full days of musical magical times spent with some of the finest musicians in the world. Enjoy more highlights of NAMM 2019 (Photos by Sheryl Aronson)
