Kenji Lee is a Japanese-American saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and improviser. His work seeks to embody the vitality of experimentalism while staying diligently rooted in historical practices. His personal approach fuses a trans-idiomatic vocabulary with rich instrumental technique and has garnered the attention of audiences and fellow artists alike.

Kenji is an inaugural 2024 CultureSource ArcFund recipient. In 2023, he was a featured performer at the Detroit International Jazz Festival, and in 2024 was a featured performer at Edgefest.

He currently leads the Fortune Teller Trio with bassist Andy Peck and percussionist Jonathan Barahal Taylor. In 2023, Lee released Kyūdō - his debut full length album. On Kyūdō, Lee’s trio and guest vocalist Estar Cohen gracefully connect their compositions and improvisations to Kyūdō, the Japanese martial art of archery. The album was released to critical acclaim including one mention asserting that “Lee achieved the principles of truth, goodness and beauty with his music.” (Jazz Trail)

Kenji has collaborated with an array of luminaries in Jazz and Creative Music including Doctor Professor Leonard King, Jaribu Shahid, Wayne Horvitz, Pete Siers, Marion Hayden, Andy Milne, Andrew Bishop, Michael Malis, Kayvon Gordon, Mr. B (Mark Braun), Lex Korten, and Jeff Pedraz. Lee has toured across the continental US, Canada, and Japan. He has also held leadership roles at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Kerrytown Concert House, and Canterbury House.

Kenji believes deeply in the power of arts education and is a committed educator. He serves as Instructor of Woodwind Pedagogy and Applied Saxophone at Madonna University and Instructor of Jazz Saxophone at Interlochen Arts Camp and the Detroit Jazz Workshop, while maintaining an active private studio.

He holds degrees from the University of Michigan in Jazz Studies and Music Education.

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‘There is no dearth of young tenor saxophone players around, but Lee stands out as an original voice whose burnished tonal majesty and melodic inventiveness are all of his own, even if informed by past masters. Listening to his ballad playing you would think you are listening to someone who has been at this for years!” (SEMJA, Piotr Michalowski)

‘Lee offers evocative tracks in which skillful musicianship and sublime beauty go hand-in-hand. The majority of the album cuts are Lee compositions; they run an impressive gamut, from pile-driving, rock-inflected dynamos …to much more rarefied fare …both of which revel in the saxophonist's rich melodicism and stately elegance.” (All About Jazz, Troy Dostert)

“[Lee] infuses a modern sound with the euphoric joy of old-school…Melodies are bright and light the path ahead. The rhythmic conversation is boisterous and quick with a turn of phrase that slides nicely into a cool blue sound.” (The Best of Bandcamp: January 2023, Dave Sumner)

‘Multi-instrumentalist Kenji Lee has quickly become a mainstay in the local jazz and improvisational music scene, while also making a name for himself nationally.  Whether leading a trio on sax, holding down the rhythm on double bass, curating an open jam, or teaching private lessons, Lee is immersed in performing, curating, and educating, connecting with audiences on tour throughout the Midwest and locally at the Blue Llama, Ziggy's, and the Detroit International Jazz Festival.” (Ann Arbor District Library, Pulp)