Hudspeth and Taylor are Making a Scene!
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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Hudspeth and Taylor
Brandon Hudspeth
Guitarist, singer, and songwriter Brandon Hudspeth was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He began taking guitar lessons at an early age after hearing Johnny Cash on Sesame Street. In high school, heavily influenced by the Blues, he started playing weekend gigs around the Tulsa area. Soon after high school he moved to the Kansas City area where he freelanced with many bands, eventually forming his own band, Levee Town, which has released five cd’s. The most recent recording, Takin and Givin charted on the Roots Music Report (#9 on the contemporary blues album chart, #10 on the contemporary blues song chart, #20 on the contemporary blues song chart, and #22 on the top 50 blues Album chart.) Levee Town represented the Kansas City Blues Society in the International Blues Competition twice, placing in the top ten in Memphis in 2009.
While touring the US, Europe, and Canada Brandon has opened for artists such as Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Leon Russell, George Thorogood, Savoy Brown, Sonny Landreth, Lee Roy Parnell, Chubby Carrier, Bobby Rush, Bobby Bland, and David Alan Coe, just to name a few.
Hudspeth has played with Tommy Castro, Ana Popovic, Chuck Rainey, Mike Zito, Watermelon Slim, Randy Mcallister, Lazy Lester, Clark Terry, Dustin Arbuckle, RJ Mischo, Larry McCray, Louisiana Red, Lee McBee, Big Bill Morganfield, Mud Morganfield, Bob Margolin, Albert Lee, Kenny Neal, and Gary Nicholson among others.
Brandon has taught guitar lessons for over 25 years to all ages and skill levels. While he considers himself a blues guitarist he also has studied jazz and classical extensively.
Jaissón Taylor
Jaissón (pronounced Hy-sōn) began his musical journey at the tender age of three, when he demonstrated an instinctual ability to capture rhythms and sounds quickly. As he developed, his efforts went into perfecting these skills as a percussionist, singer, songwriter, and producer. Jaissón toured relentlessly for many years around the world including China, Japan, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, and eleven different African countries (Ghana, Senegal, Guinea, Mali, and Morocco, to name a few).
Jaissón worked for the Department of Defense entertainment division, offering music to American troops and NATO allies throughout his career. He further polished his craft through festival and concert appearances with many artists like Bill Withers, Al Green, Tina Turner, Freddy King, Santana, Jean Luc Ponty, The Staple Singers, Scatband, and others through the 70’s and 80’s.
In the 90’s, Jaissón became a founding member of the dance band Hot House, who performed as the house band at the popular night spot, The Levee, for ten years. At the same time, he produced, “Well Alright!” with Little Hatch and the Houserockers. Under Jaissón’s management, Little Hatch and the Houserockers toured Belgium, playing dates with Gatemouth Brown, Honeyboy Edwards, and Larry Garner.
A two-year hiatus from Hot House led Jaissón to teaching, where he focused on African culture and music, and jazz history at the University Leadership Academy charter school (a University of Missouri-Kansas City affiliate). During this same time he toured with Joe Louis Walker and reggae favorite Az-One.
Jaissón has furthered his commitment to youth by teaching drums and percussion with Leon Brady and becoming involved with the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. He has participated as the music instructor/percussionist in every Ailey Camp but one since 1995. He continues his work with children to this day, performing and providing clinics in Kansas City area schools with the Traditional Music Society.
Recent work includes a long standing engagement at Lindsey Shannon’s BB’s Lawnside Barbecue with Pacific Blues Recording artist, Lee McBee and the Confessors. Lazy Lester and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry are some of the artists that have stopped in to jam. Concert and club dates include appearances with recording artists Scott Ellison, and D.C. Bellamy.
Jaissón is currently pursuing a degree in music therapy/ music education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He recently finished his first solo effort “Tug of Love” on the Enneagram label, which showcases twelve original titles.
