So to keep this in context, when was this concert? He's definitely in my top ten, perhaps five greatest electric guitarists. Notice how expanded his modes are? NOTICE HE PLAYS WITH ALL FOUR FINGERS!
I've always liked Jan Akkerman's playing. Those first 6 or so Focus albums are golden. Folks, you have trocheck out Focus on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert from around 1975. Itinclides an abridged Hamburger Concerto that is an absolute killer. What a live band they were. When I was a kid, that Kirshner episode that featured Focus, literally had me in tears, it was so good. It's good to know Jan is still around and playing well. Cheers.
Jan is een tovenaar op de gitaar heb hem heel lang geleden in Amsterdam op het Buikslotermeerplein zien spelen prachtig echt. De beste van de wereld volgens mij
What an amazing musician Jan is the 'complete guitarist'! I love how Jan comes out with new phrases whilst still using his signature phrases! The great musicians are always instantly recognisable - whetherl it is Rock (Jeff Beck, Hendrix etc.), Classical (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Sibelius etc.), Jazz (Charlie Parker, Herbie Hancock, Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery etc.), Blues (BB King, Albert Collins, etc), Fusion (Allan Holdsworth, Frank Gambale, Scott Henderson, etc). They all have signature 'licks' whilst somehow constantly coming up with new ideas!
From A to Z all that top, best and very best guitar players in the world are fan of and or know Jan Akkerman, most know him , yeah, really true...... Do you all have a clue now ? I could not make it more einfach, simple. right?
Anyone remember when in 1974-ish suddenly Jan was rated the number one rock guitarist beating guys like Jimmy Page, Carlos Santana, Tony Iommy, Eric Clapton etc? Well deserved!
Sommigen noemen Jeff Beck, anderen zeggen Hendrix of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Jan Akkerman is in mijn ogen en oren één van de beste gitaristen en hij hoort zeker in het rijtje van toppers te staan.
Thank God he plays a Gibson. Usually you should grown when you hear "true original." It's like an incoming round from artillery. Some bullshit. But Akkerman is a true original in the only 'good' sense I know.
Good grief,was terrified with the man’s technique back in the 70’S with Focus,but even scarier now.the group were basically what you would with except,so skilled plus melodic and all things wonderfulTwas a joy to listen in,and venerate.Ian Morrison
One year I flew from Manchester to Bonn and then after a hiring a car I drove to an old monastery in a village called Dernau where I saw him and his band in concert. Given the atmosphere of the venue it was a great experience. I also saw him again in Chester a few years later. You need to hear this music live at full volume to really appreciate it.
Cool memaster but to me this sounds more computerized/digital without as much life in it. The other version that sounds like it’s life from the audience may have more fuzz or whatever but it has way better tone and life to it you can hear how his live tube amps really sounded blasting in that theatre.
Is this the really only known live version? Is this not Hendrix?- ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VHdep2bKXMs.html It kinda sounds like a cover but then there’s his vocals and it kinda goes crazy like him but still the first 10 seconds and the whole song gives me not Hendrix vibes. I was thinking this must be really early or something bc it doesn’t sound like Hendrix to me. I feel like it’s a cover.
Jan has it all and for a long time . I was twelve in 1972 when I saw FOCUS live . Such beautiful melodies and tones that have been with me ever since. Thanks so much Jan .
An example of how great of a guitarist Jan is , is here’s a guitar who can tear up the finger board w speed and solos, but he’s content playing extreme melodic solos! Sing of a true musical pro, he’s also a melodic genius.
It's funny how many great guitarists I still discover to this day even though I am 48 and been playing since I was 11 and I thought I knew about every great guitar player out there. Of course I was aware of the band Focus all these decades but I certainly never dove deep into their catalog to ever know this guy was this good. I mostly saw them as a one hit wonder band with their Hocus Pocus song. But, it just makes me wonder how many more great players are out there I'm not familiar with that a good amount of the guitar playing world is aware of, I'm sure there are many, but that's what makes it so interesting, still discovering something or someone new after all this time, even though they or it might actually be old. This guy is more fusion rock jazz than I'm into so maybe that is why I'm not familiar with his playing, but I really like him. I wouldn't go as far as to say he is near the best or anything like that but he's clearly a beast in the instrument.
Funky Floris: Jan Akkerman Koningsdag 2016 "Royal moments - King's concert in De Spiegel. In 1985 it was created by his father Prince Claus, the King's Day Concert. A traditional concert over the years, which until 2013 always took place at Noordeinde Palace. From 2014, the concert will be held in the province, where the Royal family celebrates King's Day. In 2016, Zwolle was the designated place for the concert, as King Willem Alexander, together with Queen Maxima, their children and part of the Royal family, would be guests in Zwolle on April 27 for the celebration of King's Day. On April 18, early in the evening, the first guests were received in the Stadstheater De Spiegel. Not much later, the main characters, King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima followed. Together with Princess Beatrix and Mr Pieter van Vollenhove and a large number of guests, they enjoyed a varied music program. The theme for the 2016 concert was an instrument, the guitar. A number of big names of international and national allure were reviewed. Jan Akkerman, Izhar Elias, Robby Faverey, Wiek Hijmans, Fernando Lameirinhas, Gijsbrecht Royé and Ruben Silva Kas. The program was completed with singer Janne Schra, dancer Maria Robles, the Zwolle youth orchestra De Vuurvogel, flutist Ronald Snijders and the Dudok String Quartet." (zwolleinbeeld nl)
