Nhouse

Kevin Brandon "Brandino"

Kevin Charles Brandon, is the studio bass player known as "Brandino". While he was born in Southern California, his musical roots go back to New Orleans. When he was four, he met Louis Armstrong, which he feels changed the course of his life. Over the years, he toured with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and recorded with hundreds of artists including Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Mary J Blige and Beyonce. All throughout his career Brandino has supported those with handicaps and special needs since he was born with congenital club feet and a hip displacement. The awareness he has provided and the fundraisers he has performed at over his life have inspired and helped hundreds of children.

Early Life

Kevin was born in Willowbrook/Compton, California to loving parents, and into a talented family who where from richly diverse musical cities of Chicago, Illinois and New Orleans, Louisiana.

From birth he was diagnosed with congenital club feet and a hip displacement, but he did not allow this condition to deter him from pursuing his passion for music and the zest for life.

Kevin was self-taught at the tender age of 4, learning to play his sister's piano. When he was 7, he took up his brother's saxophone (which he was gifted), and enjoyed playing several other instruments. When he was 9 his father suggested that he find a dedicated instrument of his own to play.

Kevin wanted to play drums, however, his father thought that his handicap would eventually become a discouragement. Instead, when his older brother had a band and was in need of an electrical bassist, he persuaded Kevin to play and take up the position.

Christmas of that year, he received his first bass, a St. George bass obtained from a swap meet. His brother taught him the basic technique and playing position; then Kevin took it from there.

He listened to various musical styles from Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Big Band swing, Classical, Rhythm and Blues, Soul and Rock.

During that time there were no stereo systems, stereo sound, or digital technology as we know it today. There were only record players and vinyl records. Many bass notes were difficult to hear, so Brandino put his ear over the record player as it played in order to hear the bass notes for the songs he would play in his brothers band.

When he was 13, he began his formal musical training on the flute with Milton Hall from Watts,CA. He also took up the Acoustic bass with another mentor, Mr. Hamilton who was also from Watts. He continued training throughout High School.

At Pius the Tenth High School, he learned to read music on both instruments respectively. The flute in treble clef and the bass in bass clef. He studied harmony, 20th century western music, counterpoint, and took other music courses as well. In addition, he performed with the prestigious all-city Pico Rivera Stage Band, yielding him the experience and understanding of the bass player's role in a big band. This band won numerous awards as well as the Hollywood Bowl Competitions for 3 consecutive years. In this same band, Kevin received the Jazz Soloist Award at the Orange Coast College Jazz Band Competitions.

After graduating from Pius the Tenth High School, Brandino earned a full scholarship from the University of Southern California. However, his love for jazz prompted him to forego the USC Scholarship. Instead, he opted to attend Cerritos and Long Beach Colleges, known for their jazz programs.

Soon after, his desire to play professionally, and an opportunity to work with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, saw him relocate to New York City.

After his stint with Tommy Dorsey, he returned to Los Angeles. There, he went back to his roots and began to train again in classical acoustic bass. He studied under renowned bassist's: David Borkenhagen, Nathaniel Gangursky, Ami Porat, and was a protege of Barry Lieberman from the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

While continuing his training, he also worked and had a position in the Bellflower Symphony Orchestra. Kevin would eventually finish his training and education at the University of Long Beach.

N'House Records Inc 2006

Brandino "Live" CD press release

Brandino Live embodies the spirited playing tradition of Jazz at the Parisian Room during the sixties and seventies, which was one of the premier and oldest Jazz clubs in Los Angeles, located on the corner of Washington and La Brea, where Brandino and John Beasley grew up playing with such Legends of Jazz as: Red Holloway, Ernie Andrews, Freddie Hubbard, Frank Rosolino, Kai Winding, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine, Billy Higgins, Rudolph Johnson, to name a few. Brandino wanted to capture that feeling that he remembered in his early career, where music was felt and played, not pre-orchestrated.

He also wanted to go back to his New Orleans roots, where surprisingly enough John is also from, in such songs as: You Don't Know What Love Is, For The One I Love, Jimmy and Kev's Blues Vocal Version, where Brandino scat's his melody and bass solo! Keeping the pulse on this exciting live recording is drummer extraordinaire : Dale Alexander (from Prince) out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Brandino, Beasley and Alexander are clearly keeping jazz alive and well.

Thank you N' House Records. Lora De Mars

References

Kevin Brandon Homestead Link Tree
Feliciati, Lorenzo. “Kevin Brandon Il Basso Di Aretha.” Index, 2005.
M Audio Contributors. M Audio Artists, 2020.
Homestead Music. Brandino "Live" Tracklist, 2010.
Homestead Music. Brandino "Live" in Concert Video Clips, 2010.
Homestead Music. Brandino's Blues, 2010.
LinkedIn. Brandino LinkedIn, 2020.
Dan Del Fiorentino. Profile and Background, Interview, National Association of Music Merchants, January 26, 2018.
Blogspot Contributors. Brandino & Friends Blog, January 10, 2010.
Peoples, Kaylene. CD Review - The Many Faces of Brandino. A G E N D A, 26 May 2016.
Contrabass Conversations. Seven Grammys & The Jack of All Trades. January 12, 2017.
N' House Contributors. Brandino Enterprises Credits. IMDb, IMDb.com, 23 May 2016.
Team Brandino. Brandino Bass Master, 2016.
Brandino the Bassist Images
Homestead Contributors. Kevin Charles Brandon & Homestead, 2011.
BBE Sound Contributors. Brandino Talks About BBE Technology. Welcome to BBE Sound, 2011.
Discogs Contributors. Kevin Brandon Discography. Discogs, 2003.
Liebman, John. For Bass Players Only: Kevin "Brandino" Brandon. For Bass Players Only, 2 Aug. 2019.
Kevin Johnson. No Treble Archives: Kevin Brandon "Brandino": Where is the World Going?. No Treble, 12 Apr. 2015.
Feliciati, Lorenzo. Fab's Music Cafe: Kevin "Brandino" Brandon, The Interview. Index, 2005.