“Lee achieved the principles of truth, goodness and beauty with his music.” (Filipe Freitas, Jazz Trail)

Kenji Lee is a Japanese-American multi-instrumentalist, composer-improviser, arts advocate, and educator merging the intersections of art, community, and equity. Lee “has quickly become a mainstay in the local jazz and improvisational music scene, while also making a name for himself nationally.” (A2 Pulp).

As a saxophonist and double-bassist, Lee has performed with many of the leading forces in Jazz and Creative Music including Wayne Horvitz, Pete Siers, Robert Hurst, Dr. Prof. Leonard King, Marion Hayden, Kayvon Gordon, Mr. B, Lex Korten, RJ Spangler and the Planet D Nonet, Jeff Pedraz, and Andy Milne.

Lee’s debut full-length album, “Kyudo”, inspired by the Japanese martial art of archery, features his Fortune Teller Trio (Lee on saxophones, Andy Peck on double bass and Jonathan Barahal Taylor on percussion) with special guest, vocalist Estar Cohen. The album was released to critical acclaim and the ensemble was subsequently selected as a featured artist at both the 2023 Detroit International Jazz Festival and Edgefest 28 in Ann Arbor.

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Kenji Lee was born in Tokyo, Japan, and raised in the seaside town of Laguna Beach, California. In his youth, he spent nearly a decade learning from the late-great bassist Roger Shew. Lee would go on to study with Benny Green, Robert Hurst, Andrew Bishop, and Miles Okazaki at the University of Michigan, where he holds two degrees. Lee also had formative lessons with Ingrid Jensen, Ellery Eskelin, Bill McHenry, Jeff Ellwood, and Matt Otto.

In addition to his work as a performer, Lee’s work as an educator and arts leader is expansive. He has served as saxophone faculty at Interlochen Arts Camp, and maintains an active private saxophone studio. His students have gone on to study at the University of Michigan, Peabody Conservatory, Michigan State University, Western Michigan University, and Wayne State University, as well as being selected to the MSBOA All State Jazz Band and the University of Michigan Jazz Ambassadors Summer Program.

Lee has also held leadership roles at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Kerrytown Concert House, and Canterbury House. In these capacities, Lee has curated over 200 performances in a diverse array of accessible & transformative concerts, poetry readings, dance recitals, art shows, and more.