Yamaha All-Star Concert on the Grand
Coverage by Alex Matthews
The 2023 NAMM Show held at the Anaheim Convention Center featured a wide variety of incredible musical performances throughout its multi day run. On Friday April 14th music manufacturer Yamaha staged a wonderful annual celebration, a celebratory concert called The Yamaha All-Star Concert on the Grand. This year the concert featured a variety of talented performers and Yamaha artist endorsers showing off the incredible musical gear Yamaha produces and highlighting some veteran and cutting edge musical talent as well. Hosted by legendary keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, this year’s show featured opener, Grammy nominated R&B drummer/vocalist, Jamison Ross. His technical and soulful performance was awe inspiring and instantly converted a huge and intimidatingly musically talented NAMM show audience. Next up was 90’s swing sensations Big Bad Voodoo Daddy which brought an entire big band’s worth of energy and excitement to the NAMM show stage. The band’s unfortunately short performance was a master class in jazz and swing put on by a tight touring band which is clearly still at the top of its game. Lastly siblings Clyde and Gracie, of their namesake band Lawrence, played a great set of soul inspired pop tunes. This band clearly draws inspiration from artists like Stevie Wonder, Randy Newman, and a bit of Mariah Carey falsetto thrown in for good measure. Lawrence is a talented young group of exciting musicians and they were the perfect cap to a fantastic and impressive display of musical talent throughout the evening. If you are lucky enough to find yourself at a NAMM show in the future, be sure to check out Yamaha’s many live concerts and performances which are always top notch.
