In the seventies he studied music composition for classical Piano and Cello at Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium in Frankfurt/Main and played jazz at bars at night while completing his university degree during the day.
In 1988, Lenz recorded Live at Sweet Basil with bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Joe Chambers.
He also recorded with a variety of collaborators: saxophonist Johannes Barthelmes (1992's Konzert der Verlorenen Söhne and 1993's Trane's Tree), vocalist Patricia Nomakosazana Dhlamini (1993's Trouble in Paradise), and bassist Ed Schuller and drummer Victor Jones (1997's Echoes of Mandela), as well as solo (1995's Love Channel).
Lenz's 2001 album "Rainmaker's Dream" featured bassist Ira Coleman, drummer Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez and saxophonist TK Blue.
Since 2013 Uli Lenz has worked primarily with the 105 LKJ, and in November of that year, the three musicians traveled to Africa on behalf of the Foreign Offices of Libya and Germany.