DaXun Zhang, professor at the University of Texas at Austin, put the CR4M double bass through its paces with a sampling of his brilliant classical repertoire, to the delight of booth visitors.  NS endorser Charles Yang performed jazz duets with violinist Jeremy Cohen (check out this great video from Woodwind and Brasswind!).

And NS artists Julie Lyonn Lieberman (NXT4 Violin) and Berklee College of Music faculty member Eugene Friessen (NXT5 Cello) performed at the booth and helped many young players get their first taste of playing electric strings.

Check out our photo album on Facebook to get a taste of the action!

It was an inspiring show for us–and, we hope, for many musicians, music educators and students!  Thanks to all who joined us!

Anthony Cooperwood, until recently bassist for Cirque du Soleil’s “Dralion” show, sent us this fascinating night-vision video of his performance in the orchestra pit underneath the acrobats.  Unlit except for the occasional flash of a spotlight, Anthony shreds in lockstep with the rest of his ensemble in their unique performance.

Also this week, NoTreble.com featured an online profile of NS artist Jonathan Moody.  A versatile multi-instrumentalist, Moody performs in the Kalamazoo, Michigan area, where he is a first-choice bass player for musical theater productions and also provides consulting assistance to musical directors.  Moody’s versatility comes from his diverse musical background:

Never one to turn down a gig in his younger years, Jon found himself playing funk, rock, jazz, dixieland, and even backed a bell choir and polka band. Drawing from his experiences has given Jon a unique voice on the instrument, the ability to sit in the background and fully support the style he is performing, and yet keep a whimsical attitude present in every note he plays.

Read more about him on www.justmoody.com.

Displaying a prodigious talent for the cello beginning at age 7, Kodheli pursued his studies in his native Albania, Belgium, Germany, and eventually at the Juilliard School in New York. At Juilliard, he began composing music for theater and dance collaborations, and went on to pursue a career as a composer. His music has appeared in the feature film Precious; in the documentary Third Wave, about the 2004 Tsunami; and in the award-winning dance film Becoming. On television, his music has also featured in the HBO series True Blood.

In addition to his solo performances, Kodheli leads the New York-based avant-rock band Blues In Space.  A reviewer said Kodheli’s performance with the band “transcends the mold of the classically trained string player, showing off a smirkingly vast knowledge of metal licks and an ability to transpose guitar voicings to the cello”.

VIDEO: Rubin Kodheli performs his composition “Jungle” on the NS CR5 cello, with the Ossia Chamber Players.

Read more on Kodheli’s website.

Violinist and NS Design Artist JASON YANG, winner of the 2010 Verizon Audience Choice Award at Kollaboration, (the world’s biggest Asian-American talent competition,) is quickly becoming one of today’s most popular sensations on the electric violin circuit in the U.S. and abroad. With over 28,000 subscribers and over 2.2 million views on his YouTube channel, he is known for his memorable renditions of popular television and video game themes, hip-hop duets, his quirky sense of style and his talent on both acoustic and electric violin as well as piano.

His electric violin performances in the U.S. include corporate events for Adidas, Ford, Frito-Lay, Paul Mitchell and Hilton as well as charity events for causes ranging from earthquake relief in the Philippines to aiding children in Vietnam. Jason has also performed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas for Panasonic and at The Zodiac Show in Hollywood which also features fan favorites, Adam Lambert and Carmit Bachar of the Pussycat Dolls. In 2007, he made his European debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. He made his acting debut on hit TV series Glee, Season 3, Episode 7, sporting his NS CR4 Violin!

Classically trained from the age of six, Jason has studied with Arnold Grossi of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Juilliard School faculty members Naoko Tanaka and Elizabeth Chang, and members of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. He has attended and performed at the Casalmaggiore International Music Festival in Cremona, Italy and the Tanglewood Institute of Music in Lenox, Massachusetts for both solo and chamber music. As a violinist in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, he has performed for then-U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in Philadelphia as well as on tour in several of the most important concert halls of Europe and South America, including Radio Symphony Hall in Vienna, Mozarteum Grand Hall in Salzburg, Dvorak Hall in Prague, Liszt Academy’s Grand Concert Hall in Budapest, Roma Musical Theater in Warsaw, Teatro Municipal of Rio de Janeiro, Teatro Cultura Artistica of Sao Paulo, among others.

Making its debut at the show was a prototype of the new NS Bass Guitar—designed by Ned Steinberger and built by luthier Jonathan Kelsey. We brought two 5-string versions to the show for player feedback—one fretted, the other fretless. Enthusiasm for the instrument soon spread to the public and the press. Premier Guitar Magazine honored the bass as an “Editor’s Pick” of the show, and Bass Gear Magazine designated it “Best of Show”.

Several excellent video interviews were generated at the show. NoTreble.com published this overview of the instrument and a video interview with Ned Steinberger. Here are a couple other great videos showcasing the instrument.

Custom editions of the NS Bass Guitar, hand-built in Maine by luthier Jon Kelsey, will be available late Spring of 2012. Standard production models, which will be made in the Czech Republic, are expected in Fall of 2012. Details will be announced as these come closer to actual production.

The 2012 NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) trade show in Anaheim, California, is one of the largest international events in the industry, and it’s a great preview of what each company in the music business is doing for the coming year. This year’s show was a particularly successful and exciting one for NS Design.

Sean O’Bryan Smith (NXT4 double bass) sent us this new video of his jazz group Kazhargan World.  We absolutely love the tone Sean gets with the bass in this recording.  Kazhargan World is a virtual collaboration, created by musicians recording in Russia, Europe, and across the U.S.

Through the open gestures of talented artists from around the globe Kazhargan World is born. With a love for unity and the furthering of jazz, a unique combination of musical talents took on the distinct challenge of creating world class jazz while never being able to interact in the same room. For generations this concept seemed futile but in truth it was only waiting for the right people to accept the challenge. From Russia to Germany to across the United States of America the artists laid out their hearts and their souls for music that was bigger than them and all about heart and sounds and jazz. As the residents of Kazhargan World we invite you in and we hope you enjoy.

—Sean O’Bryan Smith

We’re also looking forward to seeing Sean and another of his jazz groups, Polcat, at the NAMM trade show in Anaheim, CA, at the end of next week.