"We've got the blues!"
Experience the soulful melodies and captivating blues of Tarnation!
Comprised of Saïs Kamalidiin and Leonard Brown, the duo has an impressive history of performing together for over a decade, with experience in various music traditions across the globe.
Saïs Kamalidiin is a multi-instrumentalist and music educator, while Leonard Brown is involved in leading a prominent music organization and has extensive teaching experience.
Saïs Kamalidiin
Multi-Instrumentalist
Saïs Kamalidiin is a multi-instrumentalist, scholar, and native of Houston, Texas, whose work bridges performance and pedagogy. As a professor at Howard University, he is committed to educating and inspiring the next generation of musicians, with a focus on African American musical traditions.
A passionate exponent of the wide-ranging Texas blues tradition, Kamalidiin draws influence from legendary artists such as Albert Collins, Lightnin' Hopkins, Juke Boy Bonner, Freddie King, T-Bone Walker, and Johnny "Guitar" Watson. Proficient on nine instruments, he has performed extensively around the world, bringing the soulful power and historical depth of Texas blues to audiences across the globe.
Kamalidiin ( being from Houston, Texas) was one of the founding creators of the now legendary Juneteenth Blues Festival: An Emancipation Celebration, then the world's largest free blues festival held annually at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park and in the Emancipation Park (at 3018 Emancipation Ave. formerly [Dick] Dowling St.) from 1977 thru 1994.
Leonard Brown
Guitar and Violin
Leonard Brown is a genre-defying New Jersey native whose career has spanned continents and categories, defying convention while uniting audiences through the power of music. With a deep commitment to musical excellence and collaboration, Leonard has graced some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The White House, The United Nations General Assembly Hall, and The U.S. Department of State. His international performances have reached audiences as far afield as Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and Hammer Hall in Melbourne, Australia.
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An alumnus of Howard University, Leonard majored in music administration and minored in violin and saxophone performance. For more than 25 years, he has served as Project Director of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz’s Jazz in the Classroom series in Washington, D.C., helping to mentor and inspire the next generation of jazz musicians. He also serves as producer of the Institute’s prestigious annual International Jazz Competition.
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Throughout his dynamic career, Leonard has brought his signature sound and spirit to collaborations with a remarkably diverse roster of artists. He has performed in support of legendary figures across genres, including Denyce Graves, Isaac Hayes, Patti LaBelle, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Jon Anderson of YES, John McLaughlin, Larry Graham, George Duke, Randy Brecker, and jazz greats Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves, and Herbie Hancock. Whether performing Beethoven with the Baltimore Symphony or sharing the stage with blues powerhouses like Joe Louis Walker and Shemekia Copeland, he continues to push musical boundaries while honoring the rich traditions behind every note he plays.