Jan Akkerman
Encyclopedia
Jan Akkerman is a Dutch
guitarist
. Akkerman is a distinctive guitarist, constantly experimenting with new equipment and guitars. Akkerman's distinctive guitar sound is characterised by his pioneering use of volume swells which produce a smooth, fluty, sustained tone, and other complex techniques such as sweep picking, tapping, and high-speed alternate picking. He also pioneered the use of the lute
in a rock band, reflecting his interest in medieval and Renaissance
music and culture. He first reached world acclaim in the 1970s when he was seen as the core of the Dutch rock band, Focus
, together with Thijs van Leer
.
, the son of a scrap iron
trader. At age five he took guitar
lessons and his first single was released when he was thirteen years old in 1960. He was a member of Johnny and his Cellar Rockers, The Hunters (with whom he scored the 1966 Dutch pop hit "The Russian Spy and I") and Brainbox (which also garnered several Dutch hit singles, including a cover of Tim Hardin
's "Reason to Believe"). Akkerman joined the Thijs van Leer Trio in late 1969 which, as the nascent Focus
was the pit band for the Dutch theatrical production of "Hair"
(recorded as an album in 1969). Continuing under the name Focus
, the band explored the progressive rock
genre (an amalgam of classical, jazz, and rock music in short and extended instrumentals) and scored a few worldwide hits in the seventies (the singles "Hocus Pocus"
and "Sylvia" and the certified Gold albums "Moving Waves" and "Focus 3"
). In 1973 Akkerman was chosen 'Best Guitarist in The World' by the readers of the UK
magazine, Melody Maker
. His standing was such that he teamed up with manufacturer Framus
to produce one of the first 'signature' guitar models.
In early 1976 Akkerman left Focus and continued his solo career, and collaborations with other musicians. In 1973 Akkerman contributed to the album of his former Brainbox companion Kaz Lux ('I'm the worst partner I know'), who in turn contributed to the Eli (1976) and Transparental (1980) albums.
A brief Focus reunion with Thijs van Leer in 1985 came in the form of several concerts supported by an album which turned out to be unsuccessful. The classic Focus lineup also reunited in 1990 for the Dutch television program "Goud van Oud" (Old Gold) for one last time. Akkerman continued to produce several albums. At the same time he was active as a session musician
with André Hazes
and others. He also played alongside Vlatko Stefanovski
, Alan Price
, Herman Brood
, Peter Banks
, Charlie Byrd
, Ice-T
, Paco De Lucia
, and B.B. King.
In 1992 he was involved in a serious car accident, but resumed playing in 1993. In the late 1990s, after an absence of nearly 20 years, he was persuaded to tour the UK again and has continued to do so on a regular basis. He writes for the Dutch magazine, GitaarPlus.
In 2011, Akkerman released his latest album, "Minor Details"
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. Akkerman is a distinctive guitarist, constantly experimenting with new equipment and guitars. Akkerman's distinctive guitar sound is characterised by his pioneering use of volume swells which produce a smooth, fluty, sustained tone, and other complex techniques such as sweep picking, tapping, and high-speed alternate picking. He also pioneered the use of the lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
in a rock band, reflecting his interest in medieval and Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
music and culture. He first reached world acclaim in the 1970s when he was seen as the core of the Dutch rock band, Focus
Focus (band)
Focus is a Dutch rock band which was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969, and is most famous for the instrumental pieces "Hocus Pocus" and "Sylvia"...
, together with Thijs van Leer
Thijs van Leer
Thijs Van Leer is a Dutch musician, singer and composer, best known for heading the Dutch progressive rock band, Focus, as primary vocalist, Hammond organ player, and flautist. He also yodels and whistles...
.
Biography
Akkerman was born in the 'Jordaan' area of AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the son of a scrap iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
trader. At age five he took guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
lessons and his first single was released when he was thirteen years old in 1960. He was a member of Johnny and his Cellar Rockers, The Hunters (with whom he scored the 1966 Dutch pop hit "The Russian Spy and I") and Brainbox (which also garnered several Dutch hit singles, including a cover of Tim Hardin
Tim Hardin
James Timothy "Tim" Hardin was an American folk musician and composer. He wrote the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well...
's "Reason to Believe"). Akkerman joined the Thijs van Leer Trio in late 1969 which, as the nascent Focus
Focus (band)
Focus is a Dutch rock band which was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969, and is most famous for the instrumental pieces "Hocus Pocus" and "Sylvia"...
was the pit band for the Dutch theatrical production of "Hair"
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
(recorded as an album in 1969). Continuing under the name Focus
Focus (band)
Focus is a Dutch rock band which was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969, and is most famous for the instrumental pieces "Hocus Pocus" and "Sylvia"...
, the band explored the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
genre (an amalgam of classical, jazz, and rock music in short and extended instrumentals) and scored a few worldwide hits in the seventies (the singles "Hocus Pocus"
Hocus Pocus (song)
"Hocus Pocus" is a 1971 instrumental from Focus II , the second album by Dutch rock group Focus. It was written by guitarist Jan Akkerman and flautist/keyboardist Thijs van Leer...
and "Sylvia" and the certified Gold albums "Moving Waves" and "Focus 3"
Focus III
Focus 3 is a double-album by progressive rock band Focus, which was released in 1972, peaking #6 on the UK charts. It includes "Sylvia", a worldwide hit that reached #4 on the UK charts and #89 on the US charts...
). In 1973 Akkerman was chosen 'Best Guitarist in The World' by the readers of the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
magazine, Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
. His standing was such that he teamed up with manufacturer Framus
Framus
Framus is a German guitar, bass, lap steel guitars and banjo manufacturing company, that existed from 1946 until going bankrupt in 1975. The Framus brand was revived in 1995 as part of Warwick GmbH & Co Music Equipment KG in Markneukirchen ....
to produce one of the first 'signature' guitar models.
In early 1976 Akkerman left Focus and continued his solo career, and collaborations with other musicians. In 1973 Akkerman contributed to the album of his former Brainbox companion Kaz Lux ('I'm the worst partner I know'), who in turn contributed to the Eli (1976) and Transparental (1980) albums.
A brief Focus reunion with Thijs van Leer in 1985 came in the form of several concerts supported by an album which turned out to be unsuccessful. The classic Focus lineup also reunited in 1990 for the Dutch television program "Goud van Oud" (Old Gold) for one last time. Akkerman continued to produce several albums. At the same time he was active as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
with André Hazes
André Hazes
André Gerardus Hazes was a Dutch singer in a genre called levenslied which is a form of emotional folk music about everyday life sung in the Dutch language. André Hazes was one of the most successful singers in this genre...
and others. He also played alongside Vlatko Stefanovski
Vlatko Stefanovski
Vlatko Stefanovski is Macedonian ethno-rock jazz fusion guitar player.-Biography:Born in Prilep in 1957, he started playing guitar at the age of 13. Stefanovski was one of the founding members of Leb i sol with whom he recorded 13 albums between 1978 and 1991...
, Alan Price
Alan Price
Alan Price is an English musician, best known as the original keyboardist for the English band The Animals, and for his subsequent solo work....
, Herman Brood
Herman Brood
Hermanus "Herman" Brood was a Dutch musician, painter and media personality. Initially a musician who achieved artistic and commercial success in the 1970s and 1980s, and called "the Netherlands' greatest and only rock 'n' roll star," later in life he became a well-known painter.Known for his...
, Peter Banks
Peter Banks
Peter Banks is an English guitarist. He was the original guitarist of the progressive rock band Yes.-Early career:When Banks was a young boy, his father bought him an acoustic guitar...
, Charlie Byrd
Charlie Byrd
Charlie Lee Byrd was a famous and versatile American guitarist born in Suffolk, Virginia. His earliest and strongest musical influence was Django Reinhardt, the famous gypsy guitarist. Byrd became the American guitarist who best understood and played Brazilian music, especially the Bossa Nova genre...
, Ice-T
ICE-T
* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...
, Paco De Lucia
Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía, born Francisco Sánchez Gómez , is a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist and composer. He is considered by many to be one of the finest guitarists in the world and the greatest guitarist of the flamenco genre...
, and B.B. King.
In 1992 he was involved in a serious car accident, but resumed playing in 1993. In the late 1990s, after an absence of nearly 20 years, he was persuaded to tour the UK again and has continued to do so on a regular basis. He writes for the Dutch magazine, GitaarPlus.
In 2011, Akkerman released his latest album, "Minor Details"
Discography
- Talent for Sale - 1968
- Profile - 1972
- Tabernakel - 1973
- Eli (with Kaz Lux) - 1976
- Jan Akkerman - 1977
- Meditation - 1977 (with Tony ScottTony Scott (musician)Tony Scott was a jazz clarinetist known for an interest in folk music around the world...
) - Aranjuez (with Claus Ogerman) - 1978
- Live - 1978
- Jan Akkerman 3 - 1979
- The Best of Jan Akkerman and Friends - 1979
- TransparentalTransparentalTransparental is the ninth solo album by the Dutch guitarist Jan Akkerman. It appeared under the name "Jan Akkerman & Kaz Lux"-Track listing:# Inspiration 6: 20# Apocalypso 6: 35# Concentrate Don't Hesitate 6: 35# Transparental 1: 10...
(with Kaz Lux) - 1980 - Oil In The Family - 1980
- Pleasure Point - 1982
- Can't Stand Noise - 1983
- From the Basement - 1984
- It Could Happen To You - 1985
- The Complete Guitarist - 1986
- The Noise Of Art - 1990
- Guitar Special - 1991
- Puccini's Café - 1993
- Blues Hearts - 1994
- The Guitar Player - 1996
- Focus in Time - 1996
- 10,000 Clowns On A Rainy Day - 1997
- Live at the Priory - 1998
- Passion - 1998
- Live at Alexander's - 1999
- C.U. - 2003
- Vlatko Stefanovski - Thunder From the Blue Sky - 2008
- Minor Details - 2011
External links
- Jan Akkerman (official website)
- Ode to a guitarist (by Forward Magazine)
- FOCUS Tribute Site