Khari Allen Lee

Biography
Articles

Khari Allen Lee has arisen as one of the most-in-demand saxophonists, educators, composers, and multi-instrumentalists of his generation. He has performed and recorded with such luminaries as Alvin Batiste, Ellis Marsalis, Edward 'Kidd' Jordan, Aretha Franklin, Dr. John, Branford Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, DeeDee Bridgewater, Stevie Wonder, Raphael Saadiq, the Treme Brass Band, Herlin Riley, Nicholas Payton, the Astral Project, Shannon Powell, Wes ‘Warmdaddy’ Anderson, Jason Marsalis, Bill Summers, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Ravi Coltrane, Kenny Barron & more. In addition to his own the group, the New Creative Collective, he is lead saxophonist & touring member of Delfeayo Marsalis’ Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Sextets & Quintets, former lead saxophonist of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra directed by Adonis Rose, and was a faculty member at the University of New Orleans & Loyola University, following his extended tenure at the prestigious New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA). He was recently chosen to become the Auburn University Daniel F. Breeden Eminent Scholar in Residence for the Arts & Humanities.

As leader, Khari Allen Lee & the New Creative Collective has released four albums, Conscious Evolution (2012), Our Great Awakening (2014), A New Earth (2016) & Live at the Sound Wall (2023), all to enthusiastic praise. In 2023, he was chosen as newest artist endorser of the family of P. Mauriat Saxophones. He is also an artist endorser for the family of Jody Jazz Mouthpieces & an artist ambassador for the family of Rovner Ligatures.

Gear

Jody Jazz mouthpieces, Rovner Ligatures, P. Mauriat Saxophones

Johnny Vidacovich: Out Da Box

Read "Out Da Box" reviewed by Thomas Cole

by Thomas Cole
July 17, 2023

The jazz tradition is often one featuring drummers leading bands. Gene Krupa headlined a group known by his name as have jazz greats Art Blakey, Buddy Rich, Elvin Jones and the list goes on. Appearing on that same list of the 50 greatest jazz drummers, why not Johnny Vidacovich too? With no explicit intent to break the molds from which jazz drummers emerge and set new standards, his thing comes effortlessly--it is who he is rather than a ...

Album Review

Delfeayo Marsalis Uptown Jazz Orchestra: Jazz Party

Read "Jazz Party" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
May 17, 2020

This album was recorded in 2019 but its message of unabashed joy is welcome these days for obvious reasons. The people responsible for it are Delfeayo Marsalis and Uptown Jazz Orchestra. The music is steeped in the various musical traditions of Marsalis' native New Orleans but brings in a few outside influences to enhance the fun. All sorts of Big Easy sounds are touched on here. “Blackbird Special," a tune originally by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, intensifies ...