Kenji Kato
| Kenji Kato | |
|---|---|
 Kenji Kato Drumset | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
7 July 1966 Yokohama, Japan |
| Genres | jazz, rock, jazz fusion, Christian Music |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Associated acts | Brown Shoe Jazz, Marc Cooper (Guitarist), Merle Haggard, Larry Mitchell, Dave Samuels, Charles Valona, Gary Burton, Delfeayo Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Mark Gross, Warren Hill (musician), Antonio Hart, Abe Laboriel, Jr.,etc. |
| Website | kenjikato.net |
Kenji Kato is a drummer, recording artist and drum instructor in Redding, California. He is a Graduate of Berklee College of Music and also Yamaha Music Academy of Japan. He has played and recorded with many artists in Tokyo, New York and California. He is also worship drummer at Bethel Church (Redding, California).
Biography
Kenji Kato was born on July 7 1966 in Yokohama, Japan
In 1971, at the age of 5, Kenji's mother started teaching him the Yamaha Keyboard instrument.
In 1979 Kenji started learning jazz piano through self-study when he was 12, under the influence of Sonny Clark.
In 1981 Kenji started playing drums in addition to the piano and keyboard.
In 1983, at the age of 16, Kenji obtained a professional license for the Yamaha keyboard instrument.
In 1984 Kenji started immersing himself in drums and studied under Motohiko Hino. He also played a lot of gigs with his own band.
In 1985 Kenji passed the entrance audition of Yamaha Music Academy in Tokyo and played with many artists including Masahiko Satoh, Aki Takase and Tiger Okoshi.
In January 1986 Kenji attended Berklee College of Music Summer School in Tokyo and got awarded a “Gary Burton scholarship” to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
In September 1986 he entered Berklee College of Music as a drum performance major.
At Berklee, Kenji studied under Gary Burton, Bill Pierce, Hal Crook, Jim Odgren, Allan Hall, Joe Hunt, Ed Uribe and Dean Anderson etc. He also gave three recitals at the Berklee Performance Center and seven at the Berklee Recital Hall.
In 1989 He received both the Wayne Shorter and Tony Williams Award in Berklee.
From approximately 1987-1990, Kenji played with many artists in Boston, some of whom were: Gary Burton, Delfeayo Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Dave Samuels, Mark Gross, Warren Hill (musician), Antonio Hart, Abe Laboriel, Jr..
In 1989 He toured all over Japan with his own group "Stone Free".
In January 1990 Kenji graduated Berklee and taught Drum Orchestration at Berklee.
After graduating Berklee, Kenji moved to Tokyo and performed and recorded with many artists including Masahiko Kondō, Yuji Ohno.
Kenji was a support drummer for Christian band "Silverwind Japan Tour".[1]
In July 1990 He held a drum clinic at Yamaha Music Academy and started teaching at Kunitachi Music Academy.
In April 1991 Kenji was hired as a chief instructor at Kunitachi Music Academy.
In August 1991 Kenji was made the lead drummer at Evangelical Free Church of Japan.
From approximately 1991-1995 Kenji worked as a studio drummer for TBS (Japan).
In June 1996 Kenji moved to New York.
In August 1997 Kenji was made a worship leader at New York Japanese Church.
From 1997-2008 Kenji played with many artists, some of whom were:Roy Hargrove, Mark Gross, Mark Whitfield, Antonio Hart.
2006-2008 He taught at the Tappan Music and Art Center.
In July 2008 Kenji moved to Redding, California.
In July 2009 He started teaching at Music Max.[2][3][4]
In July 2013 Kenji started playing drums at Bethel Church (Redding, California) for the Healing Room.
Currently He plays and records with many artists such as Brown Shoe Jazz, Merle Haggard, Larry Michell, Marc Cooper (Guitarist), Charles Valona, Chuck Epperson Jr. Andres Acuna.[5][6][7]