Christian Finger

Christian Finger is an award winning drummer who has played and recorded with some of the world’s most famous musicians. Working in a wide variety of fields, Christian’s versatility shows in countless musical styles, ranging from Jazz, Rock, Pop, Musical/Theater music/Cabaret to work as a studio musician. His resume includes performances, tours and recordings with the following musicians: Lee Konitz (featured on CD ”Balance”), Dave Kikoski, John Goldsby; Rich Perry, and Vadim Neselovskyi (both also featured on “Merge Into Beauty”), Jeff Ballard, Dave Stryker, Zach Brock (all three on new CD "Ananda"), Donny McCasslin, Jon Gordon, Davey Money, Seleno Clark, Russ Lossing, Reuben Wilson, Dan Tepfer, Stefan Bauer, Tim Armacost, Chris Baccas, Nate Radley, Joris Teepe, Matt Shulman, Peter Bernstein, Grant Stewart, Kim Bock, Allen Ferber, Mike Nock, Mark Issacs, Matt McMahon, Achim Kaufmann, Frank Wunsch, Matthias Nadolny, Gerd Dudeck, Lotte Anker, Gunnar Pluemer, Hans Wanning, Frank Wingold and many more. Born and raised in Germany to an artistic family, Christian started early on the drum set and piano and became known as a child protégée at the local music conservatory, Musikhochschule Dortmund. He continued studying drums in Germany, USA and the Netherlands, and after receiving his BA and MA Degrees, he worked as a freelance musician in Jazz & Pop Music, and at major Theater/Musical productions throughout Europe. That led to features on WDR TV (Germany’s biggest station) and at several radio stations. Christian also founded, drummed and composed for the award winning band “Once in Lifetime”. With this quartet and other bands he performed at major Jazz festivals in Europe. He then also released his first solo album, “Balance”. After living in Sydney, Australia in 2000, Christian moved to New York City in 2001, and a world of possibilities to work with fantastic musicians opened up. Since then, he keeps a busy schedule in NYC as a freelance drummer playing in all kinds of bands and ensembles. In addition, he led his band “finger trio” and now the "Christian Finger Band". He also just finished writing, producing and recording his new CD, “Merge Into Beauty” (Finger Music Productions), which is receiving rave reviews. His exciting and diverse compositions have also been part of several theater productions throughout New York City. Christian teaches privately at his nydrumschool.com, has written two drum books and several articles for the famous “Modern Drummer” magazine. He is also a judge at the "Drum Off" Competition and he's running his recording Enterprise DrumTracks Via Internet at www.myspace.com/drumtracksviainternet In New York and Europe Christian studied with world renowned drummers such as John Riley, Kenny Washington, Jeff Ballard, Billy Drummond, Adam Nussbaum, ‘Smitty’ Smith, Sean Pelton, Ari Hoenig, Mike Clarke, Kim Plainfield, Ramesh Shotham, Harald Kuehlen, and also attended master classes with Mel Lewis, Jack DeJohnette, Ed Thipgen, Peter Erskine, Paul Motian, Grady Tate, Tom Brechtlein, Dave Weckl, and Billy Cobham. In addition Christian studied composition/counterpoint with Mr. H. Derdack (Germany) and Dr. C. Bettendorf (Columbia University NY).