Saxophonist Khari Allen Lee returned to his alma mater, Auburn, to perform a concert with members of the jazz group the New Creative Collection.
Coming from New Orleans, Lee performed Friday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the Goodwin Recital Hall. Along with Lee, pianist Meghan Swartz and artist Marcus Akinlana provided their talents to coincide with the jazz music.
Lee, originally from Tuskegee, was raised in Auburn and attended Auburn High School. He studied at Auburn University in 1998 where he majored in music.
"To pursue music, there has to be natural tendency and talent," Lee said. "Instances come up in your life, and it demonstrates the need for music, that's how it was in my case."
Lee joined the New Creative Collective, and they released their first CD, "Conscious Evolution," in 2012.
David Pulphus, a member of the Collective, is a Grammy award-winning bassist and accompanied Lee.
Lee said coming home to Auburn was a beautiful gift.
"It is a great celebration," Lee said. "It has been 11 years, almost to the day, since I have been here last. It means a lot to me."
After graduation, Lee moved to Boston and attended Berklee College of Music and earned an artist diploma. He moved to New Orleans and earned a masters degree at University of New Orleans in 2006, just before Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city.
He has taught at Tulane, a school in Tanzania and now teaches at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. He continues to play with the Collective on regular shows.
New Orleans artist Marcus Arkinlana displayed some of his art in corroboration with Lee.
"Marcus Akinlana has more than 20 public art monuments installed throughout the country," said Patrick McCurry, local music blogger and jazz musician. "He co-founded Ile Eko Asa Yoruba Ni New Orleans, a study institute for traditional African Culture and spirituality."
"I am a mentalist, public artist, sculptor and my art is cultural activism in different styles," Akinlana said. "I'm here to spread the joy."
Akinlana's focus for the concert was a spiritual revolution, drawing from his African-American heritage and world mythologies.
"I am showing 30 years of being an artist and cultural activist in the U.S. and all over the world," Akinlana said.
One of his most famous pieces, "Mile High and Rising," is displayed in the Denver International Airport. Lee also presented a master class, which was open and free for everyone Friday, Oct. 18, in Goodwin Hall.
"We opened things up with a little performance with some great music," Lee said. "Then, we opened the floor for some discussion, questions and observations."
Akinlana's work was on display and was available for purchase, and Lee performed music from his first CD.
"Words and forms are proxies for something deeper that needs to be communicated," Lee said. "We are bringing about the healing of the world through music."
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