NAMM Show 2023: A Duran Duran bass and Ukrainian guitar among instruments on display

• April 13, 2023

The NAMM Show, running from Thursday, April 13 through Saturday, April 15, returned to the Anaheim Convention Center with its annual preview day on Thursday. A limited group of vendors gathered outside the main exhibit hall to demonstrate their latest products, including several tech and gear innovations this weekend.

The NAMM (originally National Association of Music Merchants) convention has been held in Anaheim since 1978 and draws more than 115,000 registrants from over 130 countries each year. Much like other in-person events disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, the  convention opted for a virtual event in 2021. 

Last year it returned with a scaled-down hybrid show, allowing a limited number of guests to attend in person while offering live stream and on-demand options. The convention plans to come back with its usual mid-January dates and at full capacity in 2024. Still, this year continues to bring big brand names such as Yamaha, which had a booth that displayed its new releases of acoustic guitar models, the FG9 R and FG 9 M.

“Since the 1960s, FG has been in the market in the United States,” said Michael Garant, marketing manager for guitars at Yamaha. “This takes all our 50 years of learning and building and then talking to players about how they feel about its sound, playability and how it accompanies their voice.”

Yamaha experimented with the designs, which resulted in two FG9 models, the FG9 R with a rosewood back and the FG9 M with a mahogany back. The FG9 R retails for $6,780, and the FG9 M at $6,620.

Another booth by Dingwall Guitars showcased Duran Duran‘s bass player John Taylor’s signature bass inspired by the band’s “Rio” album. The sleek bass design incorporates the colors of the album and a symbol that resembles an eye found on the album’s cover on the bottom right. The symbol is embedded into the bass guitar’s neck.

“The story behind it, unofficially, was, this is an icon that someone found in the catacombs below Jerusalem,” said Sheldon Dingwall, founder of Dingwall Guitars. “Somehow, it ended up on their album, so John wanted it on the guitar.”

Duran Duran fans and bass players alike will have to wait to get their hands on the model. Dingwall said that only 82 models of the signature bass retailing at $2,830 were made, and they sold out today after their release, but more production versions are slated to be released this summer.

Other interesting finds at the media preview included a 3D-printed violin by 3Dvarius, which specialize in designing electric violins and cellos. Another eye-catching design was a guitar inspired by Ukraine and its fight against Russia.

The guitar, named Voila, was created by the Ukrainian guitar company Universum Guitars and the Swedish company True Temperament. It incorporates colors of the Ukrainian flag and other cultural symbols, such as the style of Ukrainian embroidery and a blooming periwinkle, which is believed to be a symbol of love in the country. The guitar will be sold in an upcoming auction which will benefit Ukrainian efforts in the war.

“It’s more important than a guitar, said Ruslan Radtchenko, a presenter of the Voila guitar. “It’s a symbol of national unity, which is so important in these days when (Ukraine) fights for freedom.”

The convention is usually a weeklong industry engagement exclusive to badge-holders, often including classes, live performances, seminars and workshops. Some of the more prominent talking points for this weekend’s programming include diversity and inclusion, social media skills, branding, and sustainability.

The NAMM Show will also feature a massive marketplace, which serves as a hub where some of the top brands and buyers come together to shop and look at the latest in musical products, recording technology, sound and lighting and more.

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Musicians will be performing live throughout the convention. This weekend’s lineup features 150 artists, including Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea, Khalil Nash and the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West’s The Commanders Jazz Ensemble.

A series of awards shows and celebrations, including She Rocks, an award ceremony that honors women in the music and audio industry, are slated for this weekend. In addition, this year, the NAMM Show is hosting the Hip-Hop 50 celebration, which will host a curated slate of sessions and events throughout the conference that pays tribute to the genre and its impact on culture, music, and music-making products. Chuck D, the leader and founder of the rap group Public Enemy, will be honored with NAMM’s Impact Music & Culture Award on Thursday, April 13.

​ Orange County Register 

Grand Prix of Long Beach: Schedule of events for 3 days of racing

• April 13, 2023

ACURA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH

What: 48th edition

When: Friday-Sunday

Where: Streets of Long Beach

Defending champion: Josef Newgarden (Team Penske)

Most wins: Al Unser Jr. 6, Mario Andretti 4, Paul Tracy 4, Sebastien Bourdais 3

Current IndyCar standings: Three of the top six spots are currently held by Chip Ganassi Racing drivers: Pato O’Ward (Arrow McLaren, 82 points), Marcus Ericsson (Ganassi, 75 points), Scott Dixon (Ganassi, 67 points), Josef Newgarden (Team Penske, 66 points), Alex Palou (Ganassi, 60 points), David Malukas (Dale Coyne Racing w/HMD)

Tickets: gplb.com/tickets or call 888-827-7333

FRIDAY, APRIL 14

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Spectator Gates Open

7:45-8:15 a.m. – Porsche Carrera Cup Practice #1

9-10 a.m. – IMSA Practice #1

10:15-10:35 a.m. – Historic F1 Practice #1

11:15-11:55 a.m. – Porsche Carrera Cup Practice #2

12:10-12:30 p.m. – Stadium Super Trucks Practice #1

12:45-2:30 p.m. – IMSA Practice #2

3-4:15 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #1

4:30-5 p.m. – Porsche Carrera Cup Qualifying

4:55-5:55 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES All-Driver Autograph Session (INDYCAR Paddock – open to all spectators)

5:10-5:55 p.m. – IMSA Qualifying

6:30-8:30 p.m. – Super Drift Challenge #1

6:30-8 p.m. – Fiesta Friday Starring Boombox Cartel Presented by Acura

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. – Spectator Gates Open

7:45-8:05 a.m. – Historic F1 Practice #2

8:45-9:45 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #2

11:20-11:40 a.m. – Historic F1 Challenge Race #1

12:05-1:20 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying & Fast 6

1:30-2 p.m. – IMSA Pre-Race

2-4 p.m. – IMSA SportsCar Grand Prix (100 min.)

4:30-5 p.m. – Stadium SUPER Trucks Race #1

5:15-5:55 p.m. – Porsche Carrera Cup Race #1

6:30-8:30 p.m. – Super Drift Challenge #2

6:30-8 p.m. – Kings of Chaos w/Special Guests Concert Presented by Acura

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. – Spectator Gates Open

9-9:30 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm-Up

10:45-11:05 a.m. – Historic F1 Challenge Race #2

11:10-11:20 a.m.– Acura NSX Hot Laps

11:25-11:40 a.m. – Mothers Exotic Car Parade

11:45 a.m.-12:35 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Pre-Race

12:35 p.m. – “Drivers, Start Your Engines!”

12:45-3 p.m. – Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (Round #3 of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES – 85 Laps)

3:30-4 p.m. – Stadium SUPER Trucks Race #2

4:20-5 p.m. – Porsche Carrera Cup Race #2

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​ Orange County Register 

Clippers know Suns’ Kevin Durant is significant obstacle

• April 12, 2023

PLAYA VISTA — The Clippers have many things on their mind heading into their first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, but one player is occupying most of their thoughts.

That’s Kevin Durant. More than veteran Chris Paul or All-Star Devin Booker, Durant has grabbed their attention as they prepare for the best-of-seven series that begins Sunday night in Phoenix.

“That’s just really it,” Terance Mann said. “They have Kevin Durant, so it’s not just any trio. You’ve got one of the best scorers of all time out there that you’ve got to worry about now. It’s going to be a completely different game plan from when we played them in the past.

“It’s almost a completely different team because he’s out there.”

The fourth-seeded Suns acquired Durant in a trade deadline swap with the Brooklyn Nets, but he didn’t make his debut until March 1 because of a right knee injury. In his first game with the Suns, the two-time NBA Finals MVP scored 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting.

He played two games before slipping on the court during pregame warmups and spraining his left ankle, causing him to miss 10 games. In his eight games alongside Paul and Booker, the Suns went 8-0 and Durant averaged 26 points in 33.6 minutes per game.

The fifth-seeded Clippers have faced prolific scorers and stars in recent playoff series from Luka Doncic to Donovan Mitchell to Nikola Jokic, but they speak of Durant as if he’s their biggest offensive obstacle to date.

Durant’s shot-making comes in the flow of the offense; he doesn’t force shots or shoot the ball to draw fouls. His presence also has enabled other players, such as Paul, to find open looks and causes defenses to make difficult decisions that don’t always succeed.

“KD on any team gives you problems no matter who it is, so we’ve just got to be locked in and ready to go,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said, calling him one of the best one-on-one players in the league.

The combination of Durant’s size and scoring prowess makes him a tough matchup for any team and while there are players who have the size and perhaps the strength to match up, few have the quickness to stay in front of him. He has long been considered one of the most difficult players to guard.

Even in practice.

When asked who would mimic Durant during their practice sessions, Lue joked that he was going to use himself. Lue settled on Brandon Boston, who at 6-foot-6 and 188 pounds best resembles the 6-10 Durant.

Boston Jr., however, is not Durant and cannot mirror the same offensive challenges that the 13-time All-Star presents.

“He’s always been very efficient,” said Russell Westbrook, who played with Durant for eight seasons in Oklahoma City. “But I think his ability to be more efficient and still score the ball at a high rate (is the biggest challenge.) He’s probably one of the best scorers I’ve seen, someone who can score at ease and looks so effortless. Over the years, he’s figured out ways to score the basketball at a very, very high rate, and that’s kind of what I’ve seen over the years.”

Norman Powell called Durant dynamic, a player who can score on all three levels. “I mean, he’s 7-foot tall, he can shoot over anybody he wants to. But just the physicality.”

Powell added “that’s the mindset that we have going in, setting the tone, being the more physical team, not making it easy. That’s what we got to do. We got to crowd him. We got to be physical. We got to bump him; try to make it as uncomfortable as possible for him, you know.”

Lue said the Clippers are up for the challenge of Durant, Booker and the entire Suns roster.

“We’re in the playoffs, and it’s about being locked in,” Lue said. “I think the biggest thing for our team is just taking away the mental mistakes, the game-plan mistakes. We’ve got to be better with that because they’ll make you pay every single time.

“We’ve got to be sharper with what we’re doing defensively, and then offensively just reading how they’re going to play us, and we’ll be able to understand that once the game starts.”

INJURY UPDATE

Paul George, who has not played since injuring his right knee on March 21, took part in limited shooting drills Wednesday. He suffered a sprained right knee in a loss to Oklahoma City and is not expected to play in the first-round series against the Suns. The Clippers are 12-14 without George this season.

​ Orange County Register 

The Grape Debate:

• April 12, 2023

The LA County Fair is one of the most exciting and anticipated events of the year for families and friends. With rides, games, food, and a wide range of attractions, it’s no surprise that the LA County Fair draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. But what many people don’t know is that the LA County Fair is also home to one of the most prestigious wine competitions in the United States: the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition.

For 88 years, the competition has been bringing together the finest palates from around the world to sample and evaluate thousands of wines and spirits. From little-known wineries to traditional labels, this event can catapult a producer to worldwide fame or reiterate the staying power of an established brand.

The LA County Fair began awarding medals to the finest wines in California shortly after the end of prohibition. Over time, the event grew to world-class stature, and in 1991, judging included not only entries from the California wine industry, but also wines from throughout North and South America. Eventually, Italian varietals were added, and in 2002, the doors were opened to entries from around the globe.

In the early years of the competition, only 16 judges participated and fewer than 200 wines were sampled. Now, thousands of wines are evaluated by panels of judges ranging from master sommeliers, wine marketers, buyers, chefs, and wine writers.

The wine and spirits are judged in a blind tasting and scored using a point method. With many varietals and price ranges represented, the point system acknowledges each varietal’s special attributes and provides a level of precision in the competition’s wine ranking systems, a benefit for both the competition and wine enthusiasts.

Since its introduction in 2007, the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition has also become a gold standard for selecting the best distilled beverages. The respected panel of judges also uses a blind-tasting method to award medals to the finest spirits from around the world.

The competition, which was held on March 22 and 23 at Fairplex in Pomona, CA, is a partner of the LA County Fair. Visitors to the LA County Fair will be able to try the medal-winning wines and spirits while enjoying all the other attractions the fair has to offer. Access to the marketplace is included with general admission. Attendees will be able to purchase tickets for the tastings and education classes once inside.

So, if you’re planning to attend the LA County Fair this year, be sure to check out the medal-winning wines and spirits from the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. You never know, you may discover a new favorite or reaffirm your love for an old one.

​ Orange County Register 

Lake Forest man pleads guilty to defrauding companies out of $3 million in anti-COVID gloves

• April 12, 2023

A Lake Forest man pleaded guilty on Wednesday, April 12, to defrauding companies out of more than $3 million in needed medical supplies at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, federal prosecutors said.

Christopher John Badsey, 62, pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud and could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count at a sentencing hearing in September.

In June and July of 2020, investigators said, Badsey told three companies he had access to a large supply of nitrile gloves, vital protective equipment in the early days of the pandemic, through his Irvine company, First Defense International Security Services Corp.

In truth, authorities said, Badsey never had any of the gloves.

Before representatives could inspected the gloves, he asked for a deposit of $1 million or more from each company.

Badsey told the companies to wire the deposits, and he received $3.2 million.

He must forfeit items and money he received because of the fraud as part of his plea deal, including a yacht, a pontoon boat, several cars, fishing equipment and over $50,000 in cash.

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​ Orange County Register 

‘Fresh Off the Boat’ star Randall Park to be 2023 UCLA commencement speaker

• April 12, 2023

LOS ANGELES — Actor, comedian and writer Randall Park will deliver the keynote address at all three UCLA College commencement ceremonies on June 16, the school announced Wednesday.

“As a proud Bruin, I am deeply honored to be delivering the keynote address for the class of 2023,” Park — best known as Louis Huang, the father in the former ABC sitcom “Fresh Off the Boat” — said in a statement released by the school.

In a likely tipoff to the tone he’ll take when he addresses the graduates, the comedian went on to say, “In my humble opinion, there is no one better to connect with these young minds than me: a 49-year-old man who is not on social media and still listens to Wham!

“My hope is to inspire, uplift, encourage, stimulate and other synonyms for the word ‘inspire.’”

The commencements are scheduled for 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. June 16 at Pauley Pavilion.

Park was born in Los Angeles to Korean immigrant parents. His mother worked as an accountant on the UCLA campus, and Park earned a bachelor’s degree in English, with a minor in Asian American studies, from the school in 1997. He got his master’s degree in Asian American studies in 1999.

As an undergraduate, Park was a co-founder of Lapu, the Coyote that Cares Theatre Company — an Asian American troupe that carries on to this day. In 2019, he also started Imminent Collision, “dedicated to developing comedy-forward stories from Asian American perspectives for all audiences.”

Besides “Fresh Off the Boat,” Park’s numerous credits include appearances on such TV shows as “The Office,” “Veep” and the mini-series “WandaVision.”

On the big screen, he has appeared in the “Ant-Man and the Wasp” and “Aquaman” franchises, along with “The Interview,” playing North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.

He made his directorial debut with the film “Shortcomings,” which premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival.

The June 16 keynote speeches will not be Park’s first return to UCLA since his student days. He has been an alumni volunteer at UCLA UniCamp — earning the 2016 Edward A. Dickson Alumnus of the Year award — and also was keynote speaker at the 2017 English department commencement.

“Through his artistry and activism, Randall Park has opened countless doors for others and advocated for a more just and equal world,” said Miguel García-Garibay, senior dean of the UCLA College and dean of physical sciences.

“He is a true Bruin in every sense, and we know his wit and wisdom will inspire our graduating seniors to blaze their own trails and create a better future.”

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​ Orange County Register 

Trial begins for man accused of decades-old Santa Ana slaying of roommate

• April 12, 2023

Decades after a man was found stabbed to death in a Santa Ana home, opening statements Wednesday in the murder trial of a former roommate tied to the case through forensic evidence focused on whether the slaying was part of a robbery turned deadly or an act of self-defense.

Edgar Ortega Cervantes, now 52, is facing a first-degree murder charge, along with a use of a deadly weapon enhancement, for the June 27, 1996 killing of 24-year-old Julio Franco in a home in the 500 block of South Spruce Street. Cervantes left the country immediately after Franco’s death, authorities say, but was identified as the suspected killer more than a decade later before being arrested in Mexico and extradited back to the United States to stand trial.

As his trial began in a Santa Ana courtroom on Wednesday morning, Senior Deputy District Attorney Seton Hunt told a Superior Court jury that Cervantes killed Franco while trying to rob him in the home the two men shared with many other occupants. Senior Deputy Public Defender Alisha Montoro countered that Franco was the one who attacked Cervantes in his own room, forcing Cervantes to act in self-defense.

Another roommate discovered Franco’s body in a bathtub, his face down and his legs up against the wall, leaving a pool of blood emptying into the drain. Officers found blood drops and stains throughout the home, as well as a buck knife and bloody shirt near the entrance to a crawl space outside the residence.

Cervantes — who was among many men living at the home while working odd jobs — was gone by the time officers arrived, the prosecutor said, leaving his belongings behind.

“He leaves the day of the murder and never returns, never,” Hunt told jurors.

It wasn’t until a Santa Ana Police Department cold-case task force re-opened the investigation in 2008 that DNA testing was conducted of the surviving evidence. Both Cervantes and Franco’s DNA were found on the buck knife, the prosecutor said, and Cervantes DNA was also found on the bloody shirt discovered outside the home.

A woman who had been living with Cervantes at the Santa Ana home along with the couple’s young baby until days before Franco’s death later told police that Cervantes had met up with her in Mexico after the slaying and told her that he killed Franco while trying to rob him, the prosecutor said.

Montoro said Franco, who owned a truck, was known to other people living at the home as “the junk man,” and was considered suspicious and strange. Montoro noted that the shirt police found with Cervantes’ blood on it was ripped and torn and that his room had been “trashed,” which the defense attorney described as evidence that Cervantes had been attacked and forced to defend himself in his bedroom.

“Franco, the junk man, had no business in his room,” Montoro said, noting that when detectives eventually spoke to Cervantes he told them that “in 1996 I did a bad thing but it was in self-defense.”

Montoro described the initial detectives as conducting a poor investigation that focused on taking some pictures and collecting some blood without focusing on DNA or interviewing many of the people who lived at the home.

Montoro also alleged that the woman who told police that Cervantes had described the killing as taking part during a robbery was estranged from Cervantes by the time she spoke to investigators and had already been tipped off by someone else that detectives believed Cervantes had killed Franco. As a result, the defense attorney said, the woman told police exactly what she thought they wanted to hear.

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​ Orange County Register 

Prince Harry will attend father’s coronation, Meghan won’t

• April 12, 2023

By DANICA KIRKA

LONDON — Prince Harry will attend his father’s coronation, Buckingham Palace said Wednesday, ending months of speculation about whether the prince would be welcome after leveling charges of racism and media manipulation at the royal family.

His wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will remain at the couple’s home in Southern California with their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the palace said. A nearly identical statement from the Sussex’s representatives confirmed the news.

The May 6 date of the coronation at Westminster Abbey coincides with their son’s birthday.

While the announcement should silence the “will he or won’t he” debate in the British media, it won’t end the royal soap opera swirling around Harry and Meghan as King Charles III prepares for his coronation.

When the prince attended the funerals of his grandfather, Prince Philip, and his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, commentators discussed everything from whether Harry would be allowed to wear his military uniform to exactly where he was seated. And there is always the question of whether he will meet face-to-face with his father and older brother, Prince William.

That intrigue will only be heightened after Harry and Meghan stoked their critique of the royal family in a six-part Netflix series about their decision to step back from royal duties three years ago, which was followed by Harry’s decision to reveal family secrets in his bestselling memoir “Spare.”

Harry and Meghan, who is biracial, have alleged she faced racist attitudes from both the palace and the U.K. press. The treatment contributed to their decision to leave the country.

The revelations in “Spare,” including details of private conversations with his father and brother, Prince William, fanned tensions between Harry and his family that became public when he and his wife moved to North America in 2020.

The book also included allegations that members of the royal family regularly feed the press unflattering information about other members of the House of Windsor in exchange for positive coverage of themselves.

The prince singled out Camilla, the queen consort, accusing her of leaking private conversations to the media as she sought to rehabilitate her image after marrying Charles. Camilla was once reviled for her long-term affair with Charles, which contributed to the breakdown of his marriage to the late Prince Diana, Harry and William’s mother.

The acrimony between Harry and his family once again spilled into public view last month when the Sussexes said that they had been asked to vacate their home in Britain.

Frogmore Cottage, a royal residence on the grounds of Windsor Castle west of London, was the couple’s main residence before they gave up royal duties and moved to Montecito, a wealthy enclave in Southern California.

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​ Orange County Register