Jan Akkerman was born on Christmas Eve, 1946 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. A stunning guitarist,
Akkerman is at home in a multitude of diverse styles -- rock, progressive, jazz, soul, latin, medievel and classical. He
spent the first half of his career in a number of rock and progressive bands such as Johnny & the
Cellar Rockers, The Hunters, Brainbox, and the ground breaking
Focus. A master of arrangement and improvisation, he was named
Best Guitarist in Melody Maker's 1973 music poll.
In March 1976 Akkerman left his Focus bandmates, essentially dissolving the group, to pursue a solo career. His
solo work is highlighted primarily by live sets from such prestigious sessions as the Montreaux Jazz
Festival and with such musicians as percussionist Neppy Noya, Carmine Appice, Tony Scott and fellow Dutchman, keyboardist Jasper
van'T Hoff.
Through the 1980's Akkerman's work rarely saw release beyond the European market, and often was confined to
the Dutch market only. Then, after I.R.S.'s Miles Copeland III organized the Night Of The Guitar tour in
1989, Akkerman recorded the critically well-received Noise Of Art, released as part of I.R.S.'s No Speak series
in 1990.
Jan Akkerman continues to record and tour, primarily through Europe and occasionally teams up with his Focus bandmates.
His activities are well promoted and documented on his own Akkernet website (see links, below).
The above photo shows Jan Akkerman circa 1990.
JAN AKKERMAN I.R.S. DISCOGRAPHY
This discography will cover only JAN AKKERMAN's recordings for I.R.S. Records.
Recordings for other labels, other recordings, solo recordings and guest appearances, may be mentioned
in the biography or discography, but details can be found by visiting some of the cool links for
JAN AKKERMAN, below...
Albums & EPs
NOISE OF ART
IRS 82041 (Released 1990)
(Re-Released as 13041 under CEMA distribution)
Number 11 in the NO SPEAK Series Vinyl, CD and Cassette.
Produced by Peter Haycock & Miles Copeland III Photos & Art Direction by Hugh Brown Design by F Red Back Cover Photos by Glen La Ferman Engineered by Mark Bruce, York Gibson, Jonatahn Dee & Julian Withers Recorded at Rich Bitch Studios, Birmingham and Orinoco Studios, London Mastered by Mike Reese at A&M Thanks to Robby Usher at Gibson Guitars, Vic Keersemaekers at Roland and Gigs Music Store, Leeuwarden Special Thanks to Martin Eisma (friends always)
Musicians:
Jan Akkerman Synthesizer, Guitars, Sequencer Programmaning
Livingstone Brown Bass
Derek Holt Bass
Brendan Day Drums
Clive Mayuyu Drums
Track Listing:
Trojan Horse (Akkerman) 3:53
You Can't Keep A Bad Man Up (Akkerman) 3:06
Bonnaville (Akkerman) 4:32
Shame On You (Akkerman) 6:44
Prelude: Friends Always (Akkerman) 5:19
Prima Donna (Akkerman) 5:26
Having Fun (Akkerman) 3:54
Akkerman's Sombrero (Akkerman) 7:09
My Pleasure (Akkerman) 6:40
Quiet Storm (Akkerman) 2:40
(On CD tracks 7 & 5 are reversed)
REVIEW COMING SOON!.
Compilations & Soundtracks
BORN TO SKI (IRS 13134): features "Quiet Storm" GUITAR SPEAK 2 (IRS 82028)
: Akkerman appears on side 1, cut 2 performing "Stealth"
JAN AKKERMAN LINKS AND OTHER COOL STUFF
Jan Akkerman has quite a presence in both label, fan and official sites on the web as well as sites dedicated to his other bands. These are just a sampling:
NOISE OF ART