Andre 3000 performs at the Atlanta Jazz Festival for his 49th birthday

During the show, André alternated between his collection of flutes and horns, even briefly hopping behind the xylophone.

“It’s really an expression of freedom,” he said of his live musical performance.

Andre and his bandmates, including percussionist Carlos Nino, keyboardists Surya Botofasina and Nate Mercereau, and drummer Deantoni Parks, took the stage behind seven vertical mirrors. Sporting thick facial hair, blue-rimmed sunglasses, a long-sleeved duck hunting shirt over striped overalls, and headphones arched over his red slide, the rapper-turned-flautist’s eccentric appearance was almost reminiscent of James Brown from the 1970s.

His band played a snippet of the song “New Blue Sun,” “I swear, I really wanted to make a ‘rap’ album but that’s literally the way the wind blew me this time,” before improvising the rest of the show.

The effect was a smorgasbord of new age sounds, full of gongs, rumbling bass drums, cymbal crashes, animal growls, bamboo leaf rubs, congas and wind chimes.

“We’re making it all up as we go along,” Andre 3000 said in his thick Southern accent from the stage. “We never know what the night will be like, but it’s refreshing for us.”

André’s performance was briefly a trending topic on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, during and after the show.

Over the weekend, Andre 3000 took the time to catch up with members of the Dungeon Family at the Dungeon, the brick house in southwest Atlanta where Rico Wade’s mother enabled the hip-hop collective and of soul music to record music in his basement.

Now owned by Big Boi, the Dungeon is where OutKast first recorded duet songs.

During a bittersweet moment while performing Monday, Andre stopped to pay his respects to Wade, who died in April. Andre told the crowd that Wade’s constructive feedback helped him develop his skills as a host and hip-hop musician.

“Rico (Wade) raised me,” Andre 3000 said. “He made sure my shots were tight. I wouldn’t have the confidence to do any of this without the Dungeon Family.

Several fans attended Andre 3000’s set wearing OutKast graphic tees and band accessories.

Credit: Christophe Daniel

Credit: Christophe Daniel

Snellville resident Dion Aldridge wore a baseball jersey with “Atliens,” the title track from the couple’s second double-platinum album, across the chest. A self-proclaimed “OutKast fan since day one,” Aldridge made Andre’s free show at the Atlanta Jazz Festival a family outing, along with his wife and young daughter.

“I’m glad Andre is here to do this and give back to his fans,” Aldridge said. “We’re just making a day of it.”

Renee Bentley wore a black t-shirt from the group’s 2000 album “Stankonia.” She said she was excited to learn about his artistic evolution from rapper to musician.

“I love how he changed genders to reflect the changes in his life,” Bentley said. “I’m here to see what it’s like.”

Some of OutKast’s younger fans were excited to see Andre 3000 in concert for the first time.

Kimoni Jiggetts, 20, said he became a fan growing up hearing his father play the band’s music in their house. Jiggetts added that he was impressed by Andre 3000 creatively challenging himself beyond his comfort zone.

“He’s an inspiration and someone who is known for doing his own thing,” Jiggetts said. “It explores and I appreciate anyone who takes pride in their creative process.”

Amari Carpenter, 20, appreciated seeing Andre 3000 as an example of international success. “He’s an Atlanta legend,” Carpenter said. “As an Atlanta native, this makes me super excited.”

Toronto native Aaron Gwynn showed off the OutKast logo tattooed on his left hand. He said he appreciated that Andre 3000’s rap fans came to see him perform experimental jazz music.

Credit: Christophe Daniel

Credit: Christophe Daniel

“He uses beautiful art to express himself in a different way,” Gwynn said. “He’s the only artist here who can veer off in another direction, and people will follow him.

Nashville native Marcus Jones said Andre’s tenure in hip-hop gave him the opportunity to try something new.

“Every artist evolves,” Jones said. “He’s been in the game since 1994 and I applaud him for trying something different.”