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Jan Akkerman

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Jan Akkerman
Jan Akkerman in Russia, 2005
Jan Akkerman in Russia, 2005
Background information
Born(1946-12-24)24 December 1946(age 77)
Amsterdam,Netherlands
GenresProgressive rock,rock,blues,jazz fusion
Occupation(s)Musician,Composer,Producer
Instrument(s)Guitar,lute,Bass,Keyboards,Drums
Years active1958–present
LabelsAtlantic,EMIdisc, Sire, Atco
Formerly ofJohnny and his Cellar Rockers,ZZ & the Maskers,The Hunters,Brainbox,Focus
Websitewww.janakkerman

Jan Akkerman(born 24 December 1946) is a Dutch guitarist.[1]He first found international commercial success with the bandFocus,which he co-founded withThijs van Leer.After leaving Focus, he continued as a solo musician, addingjazz fusioninfluences.

Biography[edit]

Akkerman performing on Dutch television (AVRO'sTopPop) in 1974

The son of a scrap iron trader, Akkerman was born inAmsterdam.[1]He started playing theaccordionbefore turning to the guitar. Around age ten he took guitar lessons and his first single, with the Friendship Sextet, was released in 1960, when he was thirteen years old. Akkerman won a scholarship to study at the Amsterdam Music Lyceum for five years, developing his composition and arranging skills.

At fourteen he was in the rock bandJohnny and his Cellar Rockerswith his friendPierre van der Linden.[2]Both then joined The Hunters.[2]After seeing a performance by classical guitaristJulian Bream,he became interested inrenaissance musicand the lute.[2]He started the bandBrainboxwith Van der Linden,Kaz Lux,andAndré Reijnen.[2]They recorded forParlophone.[2]

Akkerman joined theThijs van LeerTrio in late 1969 which, as the nascent bandFocus,was the pit band for the Dutch theatrical production ofHair(recorded as an album in 1969). Under the name Focus, the band exploredprogressive rock,an amalgam of classical, jazz, and rock music, and had hits in the seventies such as"Hocus Pocus"and "Sylvia".The band's albumsFocus IIandFocus 3were certifiedGold.In 1973 Akkerman was voted Best Guitarist in the World by readers of the UK magazineMelody Maker.With manufacturerFramushe helped produce one of the first signature guitar models.[3][4][5][6]

Atlanticreleased his solo albumTabernakel,which contains his playing the lute.[2]Hisconcept albumEli,recorded with Kaz Lux on vocals, won the DutchEdison Awardfor best album in 1976. On the album, Akkerman experimented with a 12-string guitar tuned in parallel fifths. In the early 1980s he began to experiment with aguitar synthesizer,as on the albumOil in the Family.In 1985, he reunited Focus with Van Leer for an album and accompanying concert. The band reunited again in 1990 for the Dutch television programGoud van Oud(Old Gold). During the 1990s and in the 2000s he continued playing with his own band, and also as a solo musician, accompanied by pre-recorded computer-generated background (Roland synthesizers and Linn drums).

Akkerman was asession musicianwithAndré Hazesand worked withAlan Price,Herman Brood,Peter Banks,Jack Bruce,Charlie Byrd,Phil Collins,Paco de Lucía,Ice-T,andB.B. King.

In 1992, he was involved in a serious car accident, but he resumed playing in 1993. In the late 1990s, after an absence of nearly 20 years, he was persuaded to tour the UK again. He wrote for the Dutch magazineGitaarPlus.In 2013, Akkerman released the albumNorth Sea Jazz.[7]

Discography[edit]

  • Talent for Sale(Imperial, 1968)
  • Profile(Sire,1972)
  • Tabernakel(Atlantic, 1973)
  • Eli(With Kaz Lux) (Atlantic, 1976)
  • Jan Akkerman(Atlantic, 1977)
  • Prism(With Tony Scott) (Polydor 1977)
  • Live(Atlantic, 1978)
  • Aranjuez(With Claus Ogerman) (CBS, 1978)
  • Jan Akkerman 3(Atlantic, 1979)
  • Live In Kiel & Stuttgart 1979(With Joachim Kühn)(Sandra Music Productions 1979)
  • Transparental(With Kaz Lux) (Ariola,1980)
  • Oil in the Family(CNR, 1981)
  • Pleasure Point(WEA, 1982)
  • It Could Happen to You(Polydor,1982)
  • Can't Stand Noise(CBS, 1983)
  • From the Basement(CBS, 1984)
  • Focus(With Thijs Van Leer) (Vertigo, 1985)
  • The Complete Guitarist(Charly, 1986)
  • Heartware(Skydancer, 1987)
  • The Noise of Art(I.R.S.,1990)
  • Puccini's Café(EMI, 1993)
  • Blues Hearts(EMI, 1994)
  • Focus in Time(Patio Music, 1996)
  • 10000 Clowns On A Rainy Day - Live2CD (Patio Music 1997)
  • Live At The Priory 1997(Akkernet 1998)
  • Blues Root(With Curtis Knight) (Universe, 1998)
  • Passion(Roadrunner,1999)
  • Live at Alexanders(Akkernet, 1999)
  • Jazzah!Mini Album (Akkernet 2000)
  • Live in Viersen & Leverkusen 2001- DVD (Alpha Centauri Entertainment 2003)
  • C. U.(Coast to Coast, 2003)
  • I'm In The Mood - Live 2002/2003(No Label 2003)
  • Fromage A Trois - Live Recorded 2006(No Label 2006)
  • Live In Concert - The Hague 2007CD+2DVD (Alpha Centauri Entertainment 2007)
  • Live In Concert 2007(No Label 2007)
  • Minor Details(Digimode Entertainment 2011)
  • North Sea Jazz Legendary Concerts(Bob City CD+DVD 2011)
  • Close Beauty(Music Theories, 2019)

Awards and honours[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abColin Larkin,ed. (1997).The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music(Concise ed.).Virgin Books.pp. 26/7.ISBN1-85227-745-9.
  2. ^abcdefEder, Bruce."Jan Akkerman".AllMusic.Retrieved20 March2019.
  3. ^"10950 Jan Akkerman".Framus Vintage Archive.RetrievedApril 23,2015.
  4. ^"10980 Jan Akkerman".Framus Vintage Archive.RetrievedApril 23,2015.
  5. ^"Jan Akkerman".Framus Vintage Archive.RetrievedApril 23,2015.
  6. ^"'Framus - known all over the world'".Framus Vintage Archive.RetrievedApril 23,2015.
  7. ^"Tidido".tidido.Archived fromthe originalon 2016-04-23.Retrieved2016-04-07.
  8. ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2012-08-19.Retrieved2013-02-05.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Bibliography[edit]

  • David Randall,In & out of focus: the music of Jan Akkerman and Focus,London: SAF Publishing, 2003,ISBN0-946719-44-6
  • Brigitte Tast, Hans-Juergen Tast:„be bop” - Die Wilhelmshöhe rockt. Disco und Konzerte in der Hölle.Verlag Gebrüder Gerstenberg GmbH & Co. kg, Hildesheim 2007,ISBN978-3-8067-8589-0.
  • Brigitte Tast, Hans-Juergen Tast:„be bop” - Rock-Tempel & Nachtasyl - Band 2 zur Legende.Hildesheim: Verlag Gebr. Gerstenberg 2009.ISBN978-3-8067-8733-7.

External links[edit]

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