As a Los Angeles-based pianist and vocalist, it was a pleasure to be able to drive down and enjoy some quality magic at NAMM 2017. NAMM is the National Association of Music Merchants and is a celebrated event for anyone involved in the music business.  The trade show areas encompass every area of the Anaheim Convention Center, which is tens of thousands of square feet, several floors, and includes the Sports Arena as a major display area.

I enjoyed visiting booths of many of my favorite manufacturers of keyboard instruments, including Hammond Organs, synthesizer companies like the iconic Moog Music, Roland, Korg, Nord, Arturia, Modular synthesizer companies, and of course pianos!

A whole area of the NAMM show is devoted just to grand piano manufacturers, including Steinway,  Yamaha, Baldwin, Yung Chang, Fazioli, and Kawai.  In my humble opinion, Kawai makes some of the best sounding and best playing pianos of any manufacturer. I got a chance to play the “Crystal Piano” as seen in the photo – very splashy!  But the amazing thing to me was how incredible the keyboard felt when I played it and how articulate and solid the action was, AND how incredible the tone was of this marvelous work of artistry and technical perfection – Amazing!

Well, this is only the tiniest of summaries of my visits to the NAMM show – there was so much going on there that I was only able to scratch the surface of all the amazing music making technology that was on display and the amount of creative energy there.  I can’t wait until next years show!