BrandinosBook

Brandino’s

Melodies and Songbook

Includes The Hit Songs:

Ode To Trane

Free At Last

Brandino’s Gospel

Swamp Dog Blues

Island Flavored Girl

Jimmy and Kev’s Blues

Where is the World Going ?

The Beginning of the End

Brandino’s Theme for Church

Smooth Jazz Can Really Hurt You

Music Printed and Produced with

Sibelius Music Software

LIMITED EDITION

By Jim Henken

Kevin “Brandino” Brandon. Known for his powerful, precise tone and

feel-good groove, the veteran doubler is now navigating his fourth decade

in the City of Angels. Brandon can handle arco and pizzicato upright dates

as well as those requiring vintage Fenders or modern 7-strings. Perhaps

most impressive of all is that he has done all of the above for contemporary

artists such as Outkast, Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige, and Joss Stone.

Kevin Brandon came into this world with club feet (both feet were turned

backward at birth and had to be reconstructed) and a dislocated hip, which,

when reattached to his hipbone, left one leg two inches shorter than the other.

Enduring years in the hospital to recover, his gift upon release, at age four,

was a Louis Armstrong concert. Inspired, he tried piano and sax before

receiving a St. George electric bass as a Christmas gift at age nine, to fill

out a band with his brother and sister. While his ears were soon drawn to the

jazz and pop rootings of Slam Stewart, Ray Brown, Paul Chambers,

James Jamerson, Chuck Rainey, and Wilton Felder, playing flute in school

provided formal music training. Eventually, Brandon was told that he had

to learn upright if he wanted to be a “real bassist.” In response, he saved up

money through high school, bought a Czech bass, and began classical

lessons with a series of private teachers, including Barry Lieberman from the

L.A. Philharmonic.

Finding his footing among jazz groups in L.A., after college, Brandon got

an offer to join the Tommy Dorsey Band and see New York City, leading to

his first road stint—and the nickname “Brandino,” from Dorsey’s all-Italian

sax section. He returned home to find that his jazz connections were retiring,

so he refocused on his electric playing. While playing on a 1978 Chevy Chase

prime-time special, Brandon was asked by bandleader H.B. Barnum—who

was also Aretha Franklin’s musical director—to join the Queen of Soul’s road

band. Retaining the slot over the next 22 years helped Brandon ride the

fluctuating waves of L.A. session work, as did composing music for the soap

opera Santa Barbara from 1984 to ’92. With the more recent resurgence of

old-school players on projects by machine-raised artists, Kevin is once again

“hanging ten” with his skilled fingers. by Chris Jisi (Bass Player Magazine )

This is a collection of songs written for Musicians looking for harmonic and melodic development. Practice each song slowly to learn the correct notes and rhythms, and then execute them at the metronomic markings. A metronome, midi clock, or timing device with a click can be used to ensure proper execution of theses melodies from each song in this book. A piano score will be available later for duet performances.

This is the first of several editions that will become available. Later editions will have parts for other instruments. Group performances for any ensemble can be easily put together with combinations of the books. Upcoming, an e-version will also be released on DVD, using Sibelius Software to enable transposing these songs into any key, for any instrument, at any tempo, and will also feature live performances by Brandino playing these beautiful melodies in different contemporary styles.

Remember to have fun when playing music: this is a gift you can give to others.

--Brandino !

All Songs Written, Arranged, and Produced by Brandino

Brandino’s “Midnight Fantasy”

N’ House Records Inc

Brandino’s “ Live ”

N’ House Records Inc.

Brandino and Friends “Live at Charlie O’s” N’ House Records Inc.

Brandino’s “The 7 String Bass”

N’ House Records Inc.

KEVIN CHARLES BRANDON PUBLISHING INC.

Kevin Charles Brandon Music ( BMI )