Christian Lillinger (Drummer, Composer, Producer and Founder of PLAIST)

Born in 1984 in Lübben (Brandenburg, Germany), Christian started playing drums at the age of 13. In 2000, when he was 16, he was admitted to Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber. He studied there with Günter Baby Sommer, Sven Helbig and Michael Griener amongst others until 2004. Since 2003 he has been living and working in Berlin.

2000 Winner of the International Improvisation Competition in Leipzig

2001 – 2003 member of BuJazzO (official youth jazz orchestra of Germany) conducted by Peter Herbholzheimer.
2002 - 2008 collaboration with the Trio GGL (Gropper Graupe Lillinger)
2008 founding of Lillinger’s own Band GRUND, with whom he has realised his own compositions.

Since 2011 he has been collaborating with the ensemble DELL-LILLINGER-WESTERGAARD (DLW), with whom he explores multi-perspective-structural compositions and their multidimensionalities.
2013 composition scholarship by the city of Berlin

2014-2018 member of the quartet AMOK AMOR (Peter Evans: tp, Wanja Slavin: sax, Petter Eldh: b,)

2016 artist in residence at Markgräflerhof in Basel courtesy of Bartels. The documentary “Gegen den Beat” (Against The Beat) by director Jan Bäumer was released the same year on German TV (3SAT).

2016 piano trio PUNKT.VRT.PLASTIK founded with Kaja Draksler and Petter Eldh

2017 awarded SWR Jazzpreis

2018 PLAIST, Christian’s own label, releasing exclusively contemporary avant-garde music founded. As of July 2022, PLAIST has released 11 albums including “Klavierstück VI“ by Karlheinz Stockhausen, “Über die Linie” by Wolfgang Rihm, “Boulez-Materialism” by DBLW and BEATS by DLW.

2018 the ensemble STEFANOVICH DELL LILLINGER WESTERGAARD (SDLW) was established

2019 founding and realization of the studio project “OPEN FORM FOR SOCIETY”, which was awarded the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Record Critics’ Award)

2019 World premiere of OPEN FORM FOR SOCIETY at Donaueschinger Musiktage and Jazzfest Berlin 2021 awarded German Jazz Prize 2021 for "Artist of the Year" and "Drums/Percussion".

2021 STEFANOVICH DELL LILLINGER WESTERGAARD performed live at Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin to mark the Alexander Calder exhibition.

2021 Performed Daniel Libeskind's "ChamberWorks" at the AEDES ARCHITECTURE FORUM in Berlin
2022 Punkt.Vrt.Plastik were awarded the German Jazz Price 2022 in the category „Band of the Year“
As of July 2022, Christian has been featured on approximately 110 albums including 23 under his own name (see discography)

2023 awarded „Instant Award In Improvised Music“ 

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Selected Press:

„A drummer of remarkable skill and vision.“ (Downbeat),

„Der Mann, der das Trommeln auf eine höhere Stufe hebt.“ (The man who lifts drumming to a higher level) (Die Zeit)

„Ein vollkommen neuer Typ des Jazz-Schlagzeugers.“ (A completely new type of jazz-drummer)(Der Spiegel)

„intelligent, highly creative music that repays multiple listens.“ (The Wire)

„Lillinger proved why he is one of the more fascinating young drummers, through his creatively restless yet precision-geared fresh approach to a kit. He was a star of FIMAV 2022!“ (Downbeat magazine)

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Selected discography:

- “Second Reason“ (clean feed) by Christian Lillingers Grund

- “ C O R“ (PLAIST 001) by Christian Lillingers Grund
- „Amok Amor“ (boomslang) by AMOK AMOR
- „Grünen“ (clean feed) by GRÜNEN

- „Boulez Materialism“ (PLAIST 002) by DBLW
- „Open Form For Society“ (PLAIST 004) by Christian Lillingers Open Form for Society - „Meinl Session“ (PLAIST 005) by Christian Lillinger
- Open form for society Live“ (PLAIST 002) by Christian Lillinger
- „Punkt.Vrt.Plastik“ (intakt-records) by PUNKT.VRT.PLASTIK
- „Zurich Concert LIVE“ (intakt-records) by PUNKT.VRT.PLASTIK
- „Grammar II“ by Dell-Lillinger-Westergaard
- „Beats“ (PLAIST 002) Dell-Lillinger-Westergaard
- „Supermodern Vol. II“ by Dell-Lillinger-Westergaard feat. Bob Degen
- „Monuments“ (ENW) by Dell-Lillinger-Westergaard & Mat Maneri
- „Konus“ (PLAIST 011) by Christian Lillinger
- „SDLW“ (BASILLE MUSIQU)/ PLAIST) by Stefanovich-Dell-Lillinger-Westergaard

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Festivals & Venues (selection):

Donaueschinger Musiktage, Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin, Arc en Rêve Bordeaux, AEDES ARCHITECTURE FORUM Berlin, Klangspuren Schwaz, Moers Festival, Resonanz Raum Hamburg, Philharmonie Berlin, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Philharmonie Köln, Musikbiennale Zagreb, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Tage der NeuenMusik Braunschweig, Doek Festival Amsterdam, MusikTriennale Köln, Schwerer Reiter München.

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Touring on behalf of Goethe-Institute in:

Western-Africa, Romania, Russia, Venezuela, USA, Canada, England, Finland, Czech Republic, France, Serbia, Poland, Spain, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Moldova, Mexico, Denmark, Brazil, Chile, Portugal and the Philippines.

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Workshops and Masterclasses in:

Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart Hochschule für Musik Basel ArtEZ Academy of Music | ArtEZ in Arnheim Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover
Hochschule für Musik Saarbrücken

Sibelius-Academy Helsinki
Zürcher Hochschule der Künste ZHdK
HMDK Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart HKB- Musik Bern and many more

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Collaborations with:

Craig Taborn, Klangforum Wien, Beat Furrer,Joachim Kühn, Cory Smythe, Peter Evans, Wadada Leo Smith, Barre Phillips, Miroslav Vitous, John Tchicai, David Liebmann, Mat Maneri, Tim Lefebvre, Peter Evans, Richie Beirach Ralph Alessi, Urs Leimgruber, Bob Degen, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Louis Sclavis, Rolf Kühn, Evan Parker, Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky, William Parker, Joe Lovano, Benedict Klöckner and many more