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 | 1985–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 7 July 1966 in Yokohama, Japan
In 1971 When he was five, his mother started teaching him 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 beside piano and Keyboard.
In 1983 When he was 16, He obtained professional license of Yamaha keyboard instrument.
In 1984 He started soaking himself to drums and studied under Motohiko Hino. And he gigged a lot with his own band.
In 1985 Kenji passed the entrance audition of Yamaha Music Academy in Tokyo and played with many artists such as 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 in 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 recital at Berklee Performance Center and seven at Berklee Recital Hall.
In 1989 He received Wayne Shorter and Tony Williams Award in Berklee.
Around 1987-1990, He played with many artist in Boston such as Gary Burton, Delfeayo Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Dave Samuels, Mark Gross, Warren Hill (musician), Antonio Hart, Abe Laboriel, Jr..
In January 1990 He guraduated Berklee and taught "drumming in ensemble”in Berklee.
In 1989 He toured all over Japan with his own group "Stone Free".
After graduate Berklee, He moved to Tokyo, 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 drum clinic at Yamaha Music Academy and started teaching at Kunitachi Music Academy.
In April 1991 he was installed as a chief instructor at Kunitachi Music Academy.
In August 1991 he was installed as a lead drummer at Evangelical Free Church of Japan.
Around 1991-1995 he worked as a studio drummer for TBS (Japan).
In June 1996 Kenji moved to New York.
In August 1997 he was installed as a worship leader at New York Japanese Church.
1997-2008 He played with many artist such as Roy Hargrove, Mark Gross, Mark Whitfield, Antonio Hart.
2006-2008 He taught at 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 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]