Khari Allen Lee

Education

MM, University of New Orleans

AD, Berklee College of Music

BS, Auburn University

About Me

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 Ellis Marsalis, Aretha Franklin, Dr. John, Branford Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, DeeDee Bridgewater, Stevie Wonder, Raphael Saadiq, Ledisi and more. In 2017, he won a Grammy for his work with octogenarian blues man, Bobby Rush, and appeared in Green Book, winner of the 2018 Academy Award for Best Picture. In addition to his own the group, the New Creative Collective, he is lead saxophonist and touring member of Delfeayo Marsalis’ Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Sextets and Quintets, and former lead saxophonist of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra directed by Adonis Rose. In addition to his current faculty appointment at Auburn University as Walt & Ginger Woltosz Endowed Professor of Practice and Director of Commercial Music, he has served as Auburn's Daniel F. Breeden Eminent Scholar in Residence for the Arts & Humanities, as faculty at Loyola University, the University of New Orleans and Tulane University, as well as a decade's long appointment at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA).

Khari Allen Lee is an artist endorser for Jody Jazz Mouthpieces, Rovner Ligatures, P. Mauriat Saxophones, and Légère Reeds.