"Started with classical piano lessons at an early age. Got free composition lessons from Misha Mengelberg. Misha had one caveat: 'All the music you write, I want to hear executed'; the best composition lesson one can hope for! Listening to Misha's Instant Composers Pool was also a lesson for life.

Was invited to play on North Sea Jazz Festival in 1985. Did this gig with Tim Zwemmer and Walter Maioli.

Formed a trio with Carl G. Beukman and Tim Zwemmer. One concert was recorded, and later resulted in the cd Harmoniak, on which the harmonium had a major role.

Formed with Beukman the Frank van Bommel Ensemble during the nineties, in which my compositions, linked to contemporary music-influences and improvisations were incorporated. Mary Oliver, Ann La Berge, and Elise Lorraine brought the contemporary aspect of this ensemble to great heights.

Had my first jazztrio with Wim Janssen, and we still work together today.

Was invited to Nedly Elstak's project Paradise Regained Orchestra, where I met Arjen Gorter and Martin van Duynhoven. With whom I later formed the Frank van Bommel Quartet, by adding Tobias Delius. We got quite a lot of attention with our performances of the music of Richard Twardzik. Later on Michael Moore was invited, and completed this quartet to a Quintet.

In 2000 participated in The Dolphy 2000 project, with Willem Breuker, Eric Vloeimans and others. We did a large tour in the Netherlands.

Was invited by Raoul van der Weide to form a trio with Wim Janssen: As If 3. Our approach of instant composition led to the cd Klinkklaar. Had also a lot of ad-hoc cooperation's with van der Weide, to investigate instant composition in different combinations.

Did two theater performances with De Appel, with Beukman as his musical companion.

Joined the band Bite The Gnatze of guitarist and composer Paul Pallesen, joined on two cds.

Collaborated in theater performances with Felix Strategier, the play Victoria, performed at Dutch farms, and Poëzie is mijn Adem.

Briefly had a new quintet with Han Bennink, Joris Roelofs, Tobias Delius, and Paul Berner. Did an Eric Dolphy Tribute with Bennink and Roelofs.

At this moment I have two Classical jazz piano trios, with which I strive to put this archetypal combination in a contemporary context and provide this compound with up to date commentary.

Formed the duo Tandem in Timing with drummer Martin van Leusden, with whom I perform mostly in nursing homes, and where we combine music with story telling.

The duo Van Bommel en Vos resulted from our mutual performances with Strategier. Our love for the comic, the absurd and the serious led to an eclectic program in the field of 'cabaret performances'.

Last years I have taken up a great love for African instruments, such as the kora and the thump piano. Concert's with these instruments will follow soon."

"Raoul van der Weide (Fontenailles / Fr, 1949) played 6 years of classical violin in the Northern Netherlands Youth Orchestra. As a bassist he developed largely autodidactic but also studied classical double bass at John Clayton and Norma Brooks. Contrast point at Guus Janssen. Feel inspired by inspiration and improvisational practice in the free but unstructured views of various musicians like Paul Termos, Guus Janssen, Lennie Tristano, Misha Mengelberg, Jimmy Giuffre, Steve Lacy, Ornette Coleman, Derek Bailey, Charles Mingus and Munir Bashir.

As an improviser, the creative focus is on the development possibilities of open personal aesthetics in the broadest sense. The continued deepening of its own sound, intonation and power of expression - of the musical fingerprint - is considered important.Van Raoul van der Weide published the solo CD 'Passages' (GeestGronden # 24 / www.geestgronden.com) at the beginning of 2006, to which De Volkskrant and promising 4 stars discussion was dedicated.

Worked together in Bert Koppelaar's POINT OF ORCHESTURE, Paul Termos Trio, Guus Jansen Septet / Octet / Orchestra, Burton Greene Quartet / Trio Spazio Trio (with K. Bauer and Guenther Sommer), Luc Houtkamp Quartet, Ab Baars Sextet, Peter Zegveld projects ('Caspar Rapak' and 'Statua Tumultus'), The Gravitones (Winners Dordtse Jazz Prize 1995), Joost Buis & The Famous Astronotes, Sound-Lee! Quartet ('Plays the Music of Lee Konitz'), New Crosscurrents Sextet."

Wim Janssen is a Dutch drummer and percussionist, born in Heiloo, The Netherlands, in 1949. He is known for the groups As If 3, Guus Janssen And His Orchestra, Guus Janssen Septet, Nieuw Artis Orchestra, Palinckxquartet, Paul Termos Dubbel Expres, Sound-Lee !