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sircosick

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Joined: January 29 2007
Location: Chile
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Topic: Jan Akkerman vs everyone
Posted: November 16 2007 at 15:56

^ ...And that's what this thread exists, isn't it? Wink

The best you can is good enough...

Vibrationbaby View Drop Down

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Joined: February 13 2004
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Points: 6898

Posted: November 16 2007 at 12:47

There`s much more to the Dutch Master than just Focus !

Norbert

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Location: Hungary
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Points: 2506

Posted: November 16 2007 at 08:03

His work for Focus is amazing, but I don't know his albums outside this band.

Hamburger Concerto is a real Symphonic Prog masterpiece!

sircosick

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Joined: January 29 2007
Location: Chile
Status: Offline
Points: 1264

Posted: November 15 2007 at 19:06

Forcefield...... I'll check them. Thanks.

Well...... Here's another of my reviews.... this time it's the self-titled album released in 1977. Very smooth and jazzy...... great effort. Thoughs about this stuff? Big%20smile

AKKERMAN,%20JAN%20Jan%20Akkerman%20progressive%20rock%20album%20and%20reviews

Eclectic Prog
(Studio Album, 1977)
Avg: 4.00/5
from 6 ratings

AKKERMAN, JAN — Jan Akkerman
Review by sircosick (Jorge Saavedra) 4%20stars

This CD is maybe the most representative of Akkerman’s guitar playing of the 70’. You know: after have played blues on Talent for Sale, classic guitar on Profile, rennaisance lute music on Tabernakel... Akkerman never had the “chance” of playing his most pure style IMO: jazz-rock. Yes. This album is jazz-fusion. A little smooth and dull in comparison to the succesful fusion bands (as Mahavishnu, Weather Report, etc.), but worthly enough.

This time, Akkerman’s guitar is not that protagonist as on any previous album (except on the wonderful acoustic Gate to Europe). Here, on the other hand, there’s an excellent bass, piano and drumming stuff too, much better than on Tabernakel or Profile. In these seven songs you can get into the jazzy style of this awesome and versatile dutch guitar player.

Also, this is one of the best places to start with JA’s discography. This CD is quite easy-listening in comparison to previous works. Although there are no bad tracks here, there are no songs as excellent as Kemps Jig or as beautiful as Andante Sostenuto (both from Profile), but the fourth star of my rating (while Profile is just a 3-stars and a half to me) is due simply to the effort made here, where the tracks range from average to good. I’d say this Akkerman’s self-titled album is a very nice follow-up to such a masterpiece like Tabernakel. Four stars.

NOTE: Do enjoy the extended version of Focus’ “Crackers” from Ship of Memories, here released as the opening track. It’s quite outstanding!

The best you can is good enough...

Vibrationbaby View Drop Down

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Joined: February 13 2004
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Points: 6898

Posted: November 15 2007 at 18:50

I picked them up on vinyl just by chance in second hand stores back in the eighties. Not sure, but I think the Forcefield albums went to CD, whether or not they`re still in print I don`t know. It`s beyond me why this band isn`t in the archives.Killer guitar by Akkerman though.

sircosick

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Joined: January 29 2007
Location: Chile
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Points: 1264

Posted: November 14 2007 at 19:59

^ Oh.... never heard of them. Must be quite rare to find, aren't they?

The best you can is good enough...

Vibrationbaby View Drop Down

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Posted: November 12 2007 at 16:16

sircosick wrote:

I'd like a lot to let you know (for those who are already into JA's discography) the masterliness of an album called Focus In Time, released in 1997, that surely VB should know...... it has no review (well, I wrote one months ago but it was deleted by my petition to have a chance to re-write it, still I haven't do it Embarrassed

), but it deserves lots of them..... a hell of an album IMO.

(Well sorry if I've just distorted the central purpose of this thread; although a "Jan Akkerman Appreciation Thread" would fit very nicely on these forums, wouldn't it? Big%20smile

)

Well, it seems to still be there ( your review ). I`ve got a vinyl copy from `85 but I`ve never seen it on CD though. Here are some other lesser known Akkerman recordings worth checking out although I`m not sure whether or not they made it on to CD.

Tom Scott ( featuring Jan Akkerman )- Prism
Forcefield - The Talisman
Forcefield - To Oz & Back
A Phenomenom - ( compilation which features a single he recorded with The Hunters in `66. Crazy guitar. )

sircosick

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Joined: January 29 2007
Location: Chile
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Points: 1264

Posted: November 09 2007 at 20:39

I'd like a lot to let you know (for those who are already into JA's discography) the masterliness of an album called Focus In Time, released in 1997, that surely VB should know...... it has no review (well, I wrote one months ago but it was deleted by my petition to have a chance to re-write it, still I haven't do it Embarrassed

)

The best you can is good enough...

sircosick

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Joined: January 29 2007
Location: Chile
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Points: 1264

Posted: November 08 2007 at 18:47

^ I'll check the site.... sure Big%20smile

The best you can is good enough...

Barla

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Joined: April 13 2006
Location: Argentina
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Points: 4309

Posted: November 07 2007 at 22:40

^ Thanks for the recommendations guys!

BTW, sicorsick, manticornio.com is a great page, and I've read several (and very good) reviews there. Here in Argentina is a Prog rock radio program called The Musical Box, you ought to check it out, very very good stuff, man!:

www.themusicalbox.com.ar

sircosick

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Joined: January 29 2007
Location: Chile
Status: Offline
Points: 1264

Posted: November 07 2007 at 16:29

^ Right.... never really into From The Basement, but 10,000 Clowns is definitely a must-have for listening Akkerman live; awesome repertory.... including some Focus stuff here and there. Also reccomended!

Edited by sircosick - November 07 2007 at 16:30

The best you can is good enough...

Vibrationbaby View Drop Down

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Posted: November 07 2007 at 10:14

If you can find them definitely check out " From The Basement " and the live 10,000 Clowns On A rainy Day ". These albums contain a comprehensive cross section of his wide scope. There`s some great jamming on the re-mastered edition of " From The Basement. "

sircosick

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Posted: November 06 2007 at 20:17

^ Objetively, I don't think so. It's rather personally, one of my favourites, but if you take a look at his discography in PA, Tabernakel is the best rated (I agree with that). Look:

JAN AKKERMAN — Tabernakel

Review by sircosick (Jorge Saavedra)

5%20stars Akkerman's best solo effort.

A rock guitar god playing a lute and making renaissancy musical pieces! A fantastic gem. Just the more electric version of House of the King gives a strange and unnecesary contrast and I think it's an excuse for Ray Lucas' skills as a drummer... but it doesn't prevent my solid five stars to this masterpiece. Javeh and the long Lammy are experimental prog suites, Akkerman style. If you like the rennaisance music (like me), you'll enjoy the rest of the tracks too much.

Get it anyway. J. A. is an impressive player in any style.

...Let me show you also an excellent review by our pal Mandy Big%20smile

JAN AKKERMAN — Tabernakel

Review by Mandrakeroot (Andrea Salvador)
COLLABORATOR Italian Prog Specialist

5%20stars My review is produced using this release: Wounded Birds Records WOU 7032

Rating:9/10

Great album from one of my preferred Prog musicians in the World. This isn't a Prog Rock album. But an album of Renaissance Music. In fact Jan Akkerman plays the lute in 8 songs and 7 songs are rearranged songs of Renaissance music. In this sense This is a fine album. Jan shows all its sensibility and ability produced a not easy album. It is true the version of "House Of The King" here contained is good but the Focus version is better and the suite "Lammy" is a fine piece of Rock/ Prog Rock, but for me the other songs are the juice of the album, because is the essentials piece in every discography!!! Speaking of single songs haven't sense because are all masterpieces. Because, I should admit it, I haven't specific knowledge on the music for lute, excused me. Vice versa "Lammy" is a masterpiece of Rock/ Prog Rock. Is an emotional suite with orchestra. In general is too dry. But, sure, is a little detail. Because it is however a big composition.

To things that I have bought this album only because with Jan Hammer plays Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice... And instead I have uncovered a big album. The lute will be also an ancestor of the guitar. Nevertheless it would go recovered. Because it is true... This is a fine lute and "group and orchestra" album. Highly recommended!!!

NOTE: You can also see my review in spanish: Manticornio.com Wink

The best you can is good enough...

Barla

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Points: 4309

Posted: November 06 2007 at 19:07

sircosick wrote:

^ Glad to hear one more guy able to aprecciate Akkerman's masterliness Thumbs%20Up

..... You are forced, then, to check out some excellent stuff by his solo work Wink

Oh no..... here I go LOL

JAN AKKERMAN

Passion

Review by sircosick (Jorge Saavedra)
Posted 11:04:49 AM EST, 1/4/2007

4%20stars

An impressive acoustic work, and an easy start to listen to this dutch

guitar god. This is not prog, so my four stars are for the music only. There are jazzy passages here, even New Age moments. You can also find here some pieces of Focus (in Suite nº2) and of his solo work, like Tranquillizer (with Kaz Lux originally) and the second part of the Suite nº 1 (Wildflower, from Focus In Time). Whatever, this album is full of fine moments, although very few tracks are composed by Jan Akkerman; but his features in songs like Bach's Passion (by San Matteo) and the well-known Classical Gas (which was mixed by Jan Akkerman with one song of his 1977's album, Gate to Europe), composed by William Mason, are really superb.

Highly recommended to classic guitar lovers, and who enjoy the soft and relaxing music.

Dude..... That was my first review in PA!! Embarrassed

Surely, I'll check out some of his solo work, and good review btw!

Is Passion his best solo album or the one that you recommend me the most?

Shakespeare View Drop Down

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Joined: July 18 2006
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Points: 7744

Posted: November 05 2007 at 19:36

Slartibartfast wrote:

Shakespeare wrote:

JON AKKURMIN ER WATVR WOOD DEF LUUZ B/C JOHN PETRUCCI IS PART OF "EVRY1 ELSE" I TINK SO HE WOOD LOOZE.

er...that is to say...

Yes. Yes indeed.

What the hell is that some kind of preverted text messaging? LOL

How does that look anything like a perverted text message?

sircosick

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Joined: January 29 2007
Location: Chile
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Points: 1264

Posted: November 05 2007 at 19:23

^ Glad to hear one more guy able to aprecciate Akkerman's masterliness Thumbs%20Up

..... You are forced, then, to check out some excellent stuff by his solo work Wink

Oh no..... here I go LOL

JAN AKKERMAN

Passion

Review by sircosick (Jorge Saavedra)
Posted 11:04:49 AM EST, 1/4/2007

4%20stars

An impressive acoustic work, and an easy start to listen to this dutch

The best you can is good enough...

Barla

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Joined: April 13 2006
Location: Argentina
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Points: 4309

Posted: November 05 2007 at 19:12

I've discovered Focus at the beggining of the year. Jan Akkerman is such an amazing guitarist, he's a lot of feeling and technique and I love his raw guitar sound. He seems to be an expert to create specially catchy melodies everytime (Sylvia, Focus II and III, Birth, etc etc), and that Hemburger Concerto middle guitar solo gives me chills down my spine. Damn, THAT's feeling!

Edited by Barla - November 05 2007 at 19:12

sircosick

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Joined: January 29 2007
Location: Chile
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Points: 1264

Posted: November 05 2007 at 18:48

^ Oh.... kudos to uncle Thys...... xD

The best you can is good enough...

Vibrationbaby View Drop Down

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Joined: February 13 2004
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Points: 6898

Posted: November 05 2007 at 18:34

Hey, can anyone confirm this.

Akkerman wanted to use bagpipes intead of hysterical yodeling on Hocus Pocus but Van Leer thought that the yodeling, accordion and laughtere would have a more humourous effect.

Vibrationbaby View Drop Down

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Posted: October 29 2007 at 13:22

Hamburger Concerto is the tip of the iceberg my friend. My favourite Focus album even though the previous 4 are more representative of the true Focus sound.