Kenji Ono Lancaster is a young rising musician who’s fellow band members have described him as “driven, focused, and spirited” who “always brings positive energy and his best self to the music.” Kenji is currently living in Tucson, Arizona working as a freelance musician, performing regularly in venues such as “The Century Room”. Kenji is also competent in several genres; currently, he and his pop/rock band “Midnight Milestones” are working on recording an EP.
At 20 years old, Kenji has already accumulated an impressive amount of experience. He has been recognized as a young talent in Tucson and was the drummer of the Pima Community College jazz ensemble at age 17. Notably, Kenji has had extraordinary opportunities through the acclaimed Tucson Jazz Institute, sitting in as the drummer for the Ellington Big Band where he was able to perform at the JEN Festival in New Orleans, the Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey, the NAU and Tucson Jazz Festivals in Arizona and invited to play at the 2021 Monterey Jazz Festival. Throughout his time spent at the TJI, Kenji has had the honor to play alongside several important artists; including renowned bassist Christian McBride, Dennis Roland, Gerald Clayton, Joe Bourne, Terell Stafford, Sherman Irby, the Le Bouef Brothers, and Russel Schmidt.
Kenji has been fortunate to have studied under multiple mentors, including Pete Swan, Arthur Vint and Dom Moio. Through the TJI, he has learned from other distinguished mentors, including band leader Johnathan Black and founders of the institute, Scott Black and saxophonist Brice Winston. Kenji now has the opportunity to teach some of the younger drummers at the TJI, leading him to get more and more experience. He is starting his first year at U of A as a Jazz Performance Major this fall.
