Focus on Jan Akkerman - Guitar Genius

I've loved this guitar player since the first time I heard him.

Loved me some focus - Focus Moving Waves, Focus II, Focus III - live in LOndon - Sylvia - eruption etc. Born at the right time!!!

Excellent guitarist, but awfull arrogant person...

I travelled from Australia to England in 1973 and fellow musicians from home took me to a Focus Concert in London.
The musicianship was outstanding but the volume was painful....I had just spent 5 weeks on a cruise with the sound of the sea still in my ears.
At the end of the Concert the huge crowd screamed for more and Akkerman came back on stage with a lute....alone.
He sat down and played a beautiful Bach piece and the entire Stadium was as quiet as a mouse.
Then it erupted in applause...unforgettable.

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A wondrful musician ... I totally love all the Focus albums I was introduced to by big sisters hippy mates, barely a dull moment. Plus of course what I've heard of non Focus, such as Black Rose etc.
Still love to hear this music 50 years on.... really.. 50 years? Farkin' ell! 🤘☠✌

I've been listening to Akkerman and Focus for 50 years, and I still don't get tired of listening to these amazing musicians again and drawing great inspiration from them! It should be remembered that the great Akkerman was and is first and foremost a lute player, and this practice made him able to range across many guitar genres with his extraordinary melodic and technical talent. Great Jan!

Focus and Akkerman were brought to prominence when they appeared on the UK weekly music programme 'Old Grey Whistle Test'. I was in college at the time and the next day when we did our weekly review of the programme over a joint in the common room we all agreed it was the most outrageously good guitar playing we had ever seen. Been a big fan ever since!

He might be a great player but what a arrogant person. i visted one concert of him and i really din't like it.

Jan Akkerman IS a real MASTER!!!! I'm glad to hear is guitar art in my period of life. Love Focus.

JAN AKKERMAN ❤nog niet een meer getalenteerde speler gehoord.
Altijd zichzelf gebleven, zoekende naar mooie muziek.

🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌😭

Grande❤

Outstanding!

What I like about him is that aura of toughness. He is not some nerdy guitar virtuoso, but a man who exudes self-confidence; every inch the son of an Amsterdam scrap meal trader. Personality is important.

guitar genius ?? ha ha ha ha ha ha !

Hocus Pocus by Focus... Phuk Yeah!

Some of Focus' music can only be described as spiritual

U hear the names, Vai, Satriani, May, Eddie….Focus was before my time but when I first was shown Hocus Pocus for a laugh, I was super impressed… especially, with his guitar work. Knowing he was ahead of them guys, I looked into him more and it’s led me here. What an inspirational player

His solo album "Profile" is one of the top guitar albums of all time for me.

My Favorite Guitarist! thank you from Brooklyn, NY

Even Van Halen and Matteo Mancuso’s jaws would drop listening to Jan.

Do you have any videos of him sweep picking in the 70s?

this vid doesn't do him justice tbh! the man even jammed with fucking paco de lucia for gods sake

Please....listen to Focus / Jan Akkerman : answers questions.....one of the best guitar solos' ever in history...

It's good to see pops still getting praise, great video!

one of my heroes. I saw Focus (‘72? ‘73?). Blew me away; been a devotee ever since….

for me he's the best

world class Lutist to boot

I remember listening to Focus in the '70s and being incredibly impressed with Jan's playing. He is one of the best guitarists to ever exist. He was awesome when he was young and has only gotten better over time.

He was brilliant back in Brainbox. I first heard "Downman" on Radio Veronica in early 1969, and was totally blown away! 🤩I bought it, and I've still got it, and it's still one of my all time favourites!

This cat was off the charts

Check out the band Brainbox. It is f..... briljant. Jan is one of the most versatile players ever.

When I was a kid in the Netherlands, there was a big dispute who was the best guitarist Jan or Harry. I remember my brothers arguing about that.

♥️🌹

Niet omdat ik n ' Dutch' man ben. Maar ik denk dat hij een van de beste gitaristen is tussen 1970- 2000.

Thanks for your very good research and explanations. Very good job!!!

Não teve o reconhecimento que merecia, assim como Allan Holdsworth, genios de verdade!
He didn't get the recognition he deserved, just like Allan Holdsworth, true geniuses!

Unreal!!

A genius who i had the oportunity to watch in 1990 in Brazil and even get his autograph. A monster and a nice guy at the same body!!

Saw Akkerman play in the Netherlands, and he was on point. His most classic album had to be Tabernakel, and still listen to that.

Toca demais!

Sylvia obra prima!

The guitar was invented for Jan.

One Thursday evening in the early 70’s, this almost unheard of (in the UK) Dutch band appeared on ‘Top of the pops’ my drinking buddies were all saying ‘when the f@@k do the vocals kick in ?’ I just said ‘shut the f@@k up, you are hearing guitar magic’ and the name Sylvia took on a whole new meaning 👏👏👏👏

probably right up there with eddie van halen with hollands guitar greats

Beeing a musician and guitar player from Holland I met Jan a couple of times he a a down to earth no nonsense type of guy he doesn,'t take B.S. from anybody love that guy 😅😅

Effortless genius.

The hamburger concerto (from 4’29 to 6’50)…. Masterpiece. Jan makes his guitar crying for eternity.