Christian Lillinger
Squatty Roo is the name of the tune and now it’s the name of a quartet formed by Birmingham saxophonist Mike Fletcher with fellow saxophonist Tom Challenger, bassist Olie Brice and drummer Christian Lillinger with a performance this evening, courtesy of TDE Promotions/Fizzle.
While Fletcher, Challenger and Brice will be well known to UK jazz fans, the German Lillinger might be a less familiar name. The man not only has immense energy and drive on stage, he is also extremely busy. He leads his own band with a recent album called Grund on the excellent Pirouet Records label, but his discography as a sideman, already substantial, is burgeoning by the month.
It’s not the first time Lillinger has played the intimate Hexagon space at the mac – he was part of bassist Petter Eldh’s Amok Amor last autumn.
But alas – STOP PRESS – he won’t be there this evening. Lillinger is unwell and his place will be take by Mark Sanders. So a fine time is guaranteed!
Promoter Tony Dudley-Evans says: “I was at the October Meeting at the Bimhuis in Amsterdam and Christian Lillinger was, for me, the most impressive performer there. He is a wildly exciting drummer, both sonically and visually (with a distinctive hair style!), but perhaps most impressive is the way he integrates into any group lifting it and helping to develop the strength of its music.”
Find out what Christian Lillinger sounds like on the soon to be released trio album by guitarist Ronny Graupe, called The White Belt, also on Pirouet Records, and remind yourself how good Fletcher, Challenger, Brice and Sanders are, this evening at the mac in Birmingham from 8pm.
- For full details of tonight’s gig by Squatty Roo, otherwise known as the Mike Fletcher Quartet, go HERE.
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thejazzbreakfast 
I believe Christian has been replaced by Mark Sanders due to illness.
That’s right, We learnt this morning that Christian is ill, but it will still be great with Mark Sanders on drums.