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Jan Akkerman
Jan Akkerman in 2005 (Russia)
Background information
Born	24 December 1946 (1946-12-24) (age 63)
Origin	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Occupations	Guitarist
Instruments	Guitar, lute
Years active	1958–present
Associated acts	Johnny and The Cellar Rockers, The Hunters, Brainbox, Focus
Website	www.janakkerman.nl

Jan Akkerman (born 24 December 1946, Amsterdam, Netherlands) 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 note, although he is also capable of astonishing high-speed pyrotechnics. 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.

Biography

Akkerman was born in the 'Jordaan' area of Amsterdam as the son of a scrap iron trader. At age five he took guitar lessons and his first single was released when he was fourteen years old. He was a member of Johnny and The Cellar Rockers, The Hunters and Brainbox, and joined the Thijs van Leer Trio in late 1969. They continued under the name Focus and scored a few worldwide hits in the seventies. 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 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 reunion with Thijs van Leer in 1985 turned out to be unsuccessful. He 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.

Discography

• Talent for Sale - 1968
• 'Profile - 1972
• Tabernakel - 1973
• Eli (with Kaz Lux) - 1976
• Jan Akkerman - 1977
• Aranjuez (with Claus Ogerman) - 1978
• Live - 1978
• Jan Akkerman 3 - 1979
• The Best of Jan Akkerman and Friends - 1979
• Transparental (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

Bibliography

• David Randall: in & out of focus - the music of Jan Akkerman & focus. SAF Publishing, London, 2002. ISBN 0-946719-44-6
• Brigitte Tast, Hans-Juergen Tast: „be bop” - Die Wilhelmshöhe rockt. Disco und Konzerte in der Hölle. Verlag Gebrüder Gerstenberg GmbH & Co. KG, Hildesheim 2007, ISBN 978-3-8067-8589-0.
• Brigitte Tast, Hans-Juergen Tast: „be bop” - Rock-Tempel & Nachtasyl - Band 2 zur Legende. Hildesheim: Verlag Gebr. Gerstenberg 2009. ISBN 978-3-8067-8733-7.

External links

• Jan Akkerman (official website)
• Ode to a guitarist (by Forward Magazine)