In search of new music, the Trio Dell-Lillinger-Westergaard has been working at the intersection of contemporary music, experimental and avant-garde jazz since 2010. The ensemble consists of Christopher Dell (vibraphone), Christian Lillinger (drums, percussion) and Jonas Westergaard (double bass), who act equally as composers and performers.
Dell-Lillinger-Westergaard’s music is characterised by its energetic intensity, physicality and architectural complexity. Breaking conventional genre boundaries, it is also characterised by great depth of focus and plasticity. Between open form and fixed structures, Dell-Lillinger-Westergaard explore the musical material, constantly illuminating it anew and developing sonic richness.
The ensemble also sees itself as a platform that offers space for guests who enjoy experimenting. With the trio as the core, the procedure of co-composition is applied in an extended way, for example with Tamara Stefanovich, Johannes Brecht, Mat Maneri, Bob Degen, Sofia Jernberg, Martin Adámek, Sonar Quartet, Klangforum Wien or Ensemble Resonanz. In the creative process, the ensemble’s long-standing knowledge structure forms the basis for its musical research.
Dell-Lillinger-Westergaard regularly play concerts at a wide variety of venues, whether at the Philharmonie, Resonanzraum or Neue Nationalgalerie, whether in concert halls or clubs; they are guests at festivals such as Moers, Klangspuren, Contrapunkt, Fri Resonans, Saalfelden, Donaueschingen or the Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik and tour Europe from Scandinavia to Portugal. In 2023-2024, the ensemble hosted its own festivals in Paris, Cologne, Berlin and Hamburg, inviting artists such as Tamara Stefanovich, Benedict Kloeckner, Sofia Jernberg, Klangforum Wien, Sonar Quartet, Zafraan Ensemble, Trio Catch and Ensemble Resonanz.

Dell-Lillinger-Westergaard’s work is documented through numerous recordings released on Plaist, enw, HGBS Blue and bastille musique. In 2024, the release „DLW: Extended Beats” received the German Record Critics’ Award.