Meet Kenji Lancaster | Drummer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kenji Lancaster and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kenji, why did you pursue a creative career?
I don’t think I made a conscious decision about pursuing an artistic/creative career over something that isn’t, but I made deliberate choices to further a career in this field. I have always liked music and the drums so I think it was a natural progression into being a musician. I feel like a lot of things have sort of lined up and I met many great people at the right times that just kept me going down a certain path and showing me the next step. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m proud of the records that I’ve made and the performances I’ve done. The longest recording process I’ve gone through so far was to make an EP called Visions Past with my friend’s and I’s band, Midnight Milestones. It was a new experience for both of us at the time and the style called for a lot of nuanced mixing that was hard to achieve. There is an album I recorded with my friends called Cactus Rose by Denali Kauffman and Andrew Gioannetti which is a more straightforward jazz album but that was fun too. Sunflower Seeds by Autumn Dominguez and Wonderland by Jonny Hines were memorable as well.

I think I’ve relied a lot on my ability to play the drums and being a kind person to get hired by people again and be recommended as a drummer. I prefer to get hired and play other peoples music the best that I can (the few times I’ve had to put something on has been stressful). There’s a lot left I have to learn about being a professional musician, or when I have to be, a bandleader. At the beginning, learning the drums was my biggest challenge and I practiced a lot over quarantine. Although I still have an infinite amount to learn, another challenge has been navigating/trying to create a career. There’s people that are doing what I want to be doing (living in New York playing super good jazz, touring the world, releasing GREAT sounding records) but I have to wonder how can I do that?? I guess we all wonder that though.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A few nature and outdoor places that I would show would be some of the trails I’ve been on and the Desert Museum. There’s the Pima Canyon, Finger Rock, and Madera Canyon trails that are cool. As far as restaurants, places I’ve enjoyed have been Taqueria Juanitos on Grant, Shogun Sushi on Oracle, Gandhi on Fort Lowell, and Roccos Pizza on Broadway. The Century Room is a great jazz place, The Rialto and the Fox for bigger acts, The Rock for Rock, and a plethora of places down 4th Ave.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people, too many to remember and put on this list here are some. My teachers at the Tucson Jazz Institute, John Black, Brice Winston, and Scott Black. Teachers at U of A right now, Angelo Versace and Jason Carder. Arthur Vint for teaching me these past couple years and opening the Century Room where I’ve seen great music and played many times. Anybody I’ve taken a lesson from, Pete Swan, Dom Moio, Kenny Washington, Greg Hutchinson, Kai Felix, Tim Rachbach, Kendrick Scott. My favorite drummers on my favorite records of course as well, Tony Williams, Philly Joe Jones, Justin Brown, Eric Harland. My many peers and friends who’s talent has inspired me and most of all my parents and girlfriend who support me.

Website: https://www.kenjionolancaster.com/

Instagram: kenjilancasterofficial

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenji-lancaster-18345223a/

Facebook: Kenji Lancaster

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHlZWJq3Vv7Q9l1abE_G8WQ

Other: https://linktr.ee/midnightmilestones

Image Credits
Miranda Rico Nolan Veneklasan