Legendary Guitarist JAN AKKERMAN Releases Title Track ‘Close Beauty’ From Upcoming Album

Photo by Paul Bergen

Legendary guitarist JAN AKKERMAN will be releasing ‘Close Beauty’, his first studio album in 8 years and his first on Music Theories Recordings / Mascot Label Group on 25th October 2019.

“He’s totally a hero of mine” – Brian May
“I wish I could play the things that he did” – BB King

Listen to ‘Close Beauty’ here:

Jan Akkerman on Close Beauty:
“The title was inspired by the simple notion, that when you are too close to an object you cannot see the real value.”

Akkerman was a founding member of Focus from 1969 to 1976 where he recorded a number of breakout albums including, ‘Focus II/Moving Waves’ (1971). The album spawned the mega-hit ‘Hocus Pocus’ which reached #9 on the US Billboard Chart, #12 in The Netherlands and #20 in the UK singles chart and the song has gone on to appear on numerous TV shows such as; Top Gear, Skins, Supernatural, Vinyl, My Name is Earl and Shameless as well we the 2007 film Hot Fuzz, 2014 remake of Robocop and 2017s Baby Driver. The song has been covered by a number of other artists including Iron Maiden, Marillion, Helloween, Gary Hoey, The Vandals and Vanessa-Mae. ‘Focus 3’ (1972) featured another hit single in ‘Sylvia’ which reached #4 in the UK singles chart and led to an appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test and Top of the Pops. That year Melody Maker declared him the ‘Best guitarist of the world’, above Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.

‘Close Beauty’ is the return of the distinctive ‘Akkerman-sound’, which runs like a thread through twelve compositions; acoustic, electric, solo performing and accompanied by his own band, Marijn van den Berg (drums), David de Marez Oyens (bass) and Coen Molenaar (keyboards). Molenaar also produced the album, which was recorded at Marten Haak’s Studio.

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Track List

Spiritual Privacy (Sunset Tango)
Beyond The Horizon
Reunion
Close Beauty
Retrospection (Emotional Debris-The Power Behind The Throne-Hear The Trees Whistle For The Dog-Euridice)
Passagaglia
Tommy’s Anniversary
Don Giovanni
Meanwhile in St. Tropez
French Pride
Fromage
Good Body Every Evening

Pre-Order Live Here: https://smarturl.it/JanAkkerman

Also view Lead Video “Tommy’s Anniversary” Here: