NAMM 2013: An amazing show

If you missed NAMM this year, you missed some stunning performances and previews using AmpKit, as well as appearances by some of our favorite artists.

This year's NAMM show featured a preview of AmpKit 1.6, which will contain all new stereo effects. We also had the brand-new AmpKit LiNK HD guitar interfaces on hand for our visiting players to sample.

One of our favorite people, Rob Math led off our artist lineup this year. Rob is a stunning "Play Anything" guitarist and the first-call player for several studios in L.A. Here, using LiNK HD and a backing track, Rob plays "Black Knight" from his band Leatherwolf.

Long-time Agile Partners friend and guitar legend Alex Skolnick had a busy year. While touring with Testament to promote their brand new album, he's also published his memoir "From Geek To Guitar Hero." When he gets a break, he can be found leading his jazz combo The Alex Skolnick Trio. Despite the schedule, he still made time to come by and try out AmpKit LiNK HD, and some new stereo effects at the AmpKit booth.

Ali Handal brought her acoustic guitar to show off the simple, clean sounds AmpKit can produce. Ali is a tremendous singer/songwriter in the L.A. area, and we were thrilled to have her as a visiting artist.

2 years ago, Jordan Rudess brought his Korg and his iPad to the Agile Partners Booth for an improv jam with Rob Math. Jordan proudly returned with his Geo Synthesizer app in hand for a set of jams. We want to thank the audience members who proudly pitched in to help make this a near all-iPad band.

Our Media Preview Day Artist Malina Moye got this year's NAMM off to a smokin' start with some amazing, crunchy licks, and a jam session with bass player George Moye. Malina is a tireless performer, and we want to congratulate her on her upcoming album, "Rock & Roll Baby"

NAMM 2013 Artist Appearances

Malina Moye
A Pioneer among the new generation of lead guitarists, Malina is the first left-handed female player to be included on the legendary Fender Guitars' impressive roster of endorsees, and to also join the critically acclaimed 2012 Experience Hendrix tour. Furthermore, the songstress was featured in the UK documentary "Stratmaster: The Greatest Guitar Story Ever Told," and Guitar World Magazine dubbed Malina the "female Jimi Hendrix" and "one of the top 10 female guitarists to know." UK's Blues and Soul Magazine touted Malina as having "…all the ingredients to shake the modern soul room.".

Alex Skolnick
Long-time Agile friend and legendary guitarist Alex Skolnick will join us again at NAMM 2013. Alex has been the lead guitarist for Testament since 1983, and is the driving force behind the Alex Skolnick Trio. Alex is also a featured member of several high profile rock/pop/theater projects. Most notable of these is the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which performs to sold out crowds across the U.S. at such venues as New York's Madison Square Garden. With TSO, Alex has regular television appearances including Good Morning America and Live With Regis And Kelly.

We want to congratulate Alex on his newly published book "From Geek To Guitar Hero", available from book sellers soon.

Ali Handal
Ali is an award winning songwriter and a guitar phenome in the music world. Ali has recently completed her third album, "Make Your Move" produced by Grammy award winning producer Seth Horan, and is performing through America and beyond with an amazing band consisting of Orlando Sims on bass, Daniel Brecher on rhythm guitar and background vocals, and Adam Gust on drums. She's an artist unlike any other; a compelling performer, virtuoso guitarist, sensitive and powerful vocalist, and richly gifted songwriter. Her work runs the gamut from spiritual to sexy, and in a music world where so much is artificial, Ali Handal is very much the real deal.

Rob Math
Rob "The Onion" Math returns as the anchorman for the AmpKit artist lineup. As a guitarist, Rob has raised the bar and set a new standard for the term "Master Player." An invigorating blend of slippery blues runs, a singing vibrato, elements of chicken-pickin', mixed with swing style bebop lines and pyrotechnical shredding are just some of the flavors you'll hear in Rob's original style. As the "house guitarist" for Soulpower Productions in Los Angeles, he worked exclusively with the Danish hit making team Soulshock and Karlin (Whitney Houston, Usher, Destiny's Child) along with the Grammy nominated songwriter/producer Alex Cantrall, (Jojo, Beyonce, Fantasia).