AGOG..........agile............to be AGOG for (Eng.): excited, eager for.... AGOG....agogiek: study of the change in tempo introduced in support of expressive recital.........agogo..........AGOG. Whatever the meaning given to AGOG, energy, the unexpected and humour come first for this group. Officially started in 1993 after winning the Europe jazz contest the group has been reestablished after a break of several years. Three musicians from different directions joining in a variety of styles: jazz, garage-rock, country, imaginary folk music from south-east Europe and Africa and new music with "Zappa like" complexity. The group transforms all the different influences to a very rich and new group sound without turning into parody or uncontrolled mix of styles.The compositions, mostly from guitarist Frank Wingold, are sometimes like Gothic buildings in structure, where every note has his own important place, on occasion the sensation is as of a cloud-scape where the listener feels far away in an almost fairy tale-like scene.Frank Wingold is in Germany one of the most well known and important guitar players from the Cologne underground scene. Haanstra and Lijbaart have played in many important Dutch and international groups and toured within and outside Europe. Frank Wingold, guitar: Born in Speyer, Germany 1968. Graduated in 1993 on the Hilversum conservatory in The Netherlands for jazz- and classical guitar. By the using of classical-, jazz and rock techniques on acoustic and electrical guitar, his sound in improvisations and compositions is totally original. Other influences are the classical 20th century guitar repertoire, jazz and improvised music, electronic music and styles from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. His own trio AGOG won in 1993 a price for the best group on the Europ' jazz contest and he won a price for the best soloist as well. Played with the German group UNDERKARL in 1997 on the jazzfestival in Berlin. Toured in the USA, Mexico, Honduras, Rusland en Malta. Mark Haanstra, bass guitar: Mark Haanstra (1974, The Netherlands) studied bassguitar and doublebass at the Conservatory of Hilversum. From 1995 till 1999 he followed the 'Contemporary music through non-western techniques' course at the Conservatory of Amsterdam conducted by composer Rafael Reina. This course speciales in Carnatic (South Indian) music theorie for improvisational and compositional purposes. He won several prices, including twice the 'Dutch Jazz Competition' with the 'Nemesis Quartet' and 'Geel'. Since the last couple of years Mark Haanstra works in the improvised and jazz field as well in the contemporary classical field. He is is seeking for a personal style which combines influences from all these. A few of the groups he plays with are: 'Mosaic' (NL), 'Odds-On' (B), 'TONK' (USA), 'Interval Chamber' (NL-ESP), Sefuba (NL), 'AGOG' (D-NL) and his own group 'Bhedam'. Mark Haanstra has performed in many countries including the USA, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. He has recorded several cd's with a wide variety of groups and artists. Joost Lijbaart, drums: Born in Amsterdam 1967, Joost Lijbaart started drumming when he was seven years old. Later on he studied at the conservatory in Hilversum where he graduated in 1991. During his studies he went to Senegal (West Africa) to take lessons in African Percussion with the legendary DuDu and Ali un D'Aya Rose. In 1993 he won the15th EUrop' Jazz Contest with the Nicolas Thys trio. He also receaved for this performance the "best drummer award". Performed with many different groups and musicians such as Yuri Honing, Michiel Borstlap, Lydia van Dam, Theo Loevandie. Sylvie Courvoiser, Wim Overgauw, Michel Godard, Tony Overwater and Ab Baars. His knowledge and mastering of many musical styles ranging from African ethnical music to Pop jazz and modern classical music make him a versatile musician. But what makes him really outstanding is his ability to become one with the other musicians and participate in the melodic and harmonic developments as well as performing his rhythmical function. Toured in more than 20 countries including China, Canada, Australia, The Middle East an Georgia (USSR). FRANK WINGOLD guitar MARK HAANSTRA bass guitar JOOST LIJBAART drums