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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZAKKERMAN, Jan(b 24 Dec. '46, Amsterdam) Highly rated guitarist (electric, acoustic) also plays lute. First LP Talent For Sale '69 on Dutch Imperial; sextet Profile '72 for EMI; served time with bands Friendship Sextet, Johnny and the Cellar Rockers, Brainbox; then jazz-rock band Focus (with Thijs Van Leer, b 31 March '48, Amsterdam: organ, flute, occasional vocals; Martin Dresden on bass, various drummers, other occasional personnel incl. Philip Catherine on guitar '76; LP with P. J. Proby and Catherine '78). Akkerman played on their first six LPs, hit singles '70s; left '76, formed Eli with Kaz Lux (vocals), drummer Pierre Van der Linden (b 19 Feb. '46), both ex-Brainbox (Van der Linden also played on a couple of Focus LPs); an eponymous Eli album. Played on pianist Jasper van't Hof's Fairy Tale '78 on MPS with Kenny Wheeler. Own albums incl. Aranjuez '78 on CBS with Claus Ogerman, Jan Akkerman Live '79 and Jan Akkerman 3 '80 on Atlantic, octet Pleasure Point '81 on Dutch WEA; a Focus reunion was Focus: Jan Akkerman And Thijs Van Leer '85 on Vertigo. Also quartet It Could Happen To You '82 on Polydor, reissued on Charly UK along with compilations Complete Guitarist and Can't Stand Noise '85--6; The Noise Of Art '90 on IRS. He made two albums for EMI Holland, then signed a world-wide deal with MCA and planned a 40-gig tour of Holland '96 to be recorded for a three-CD live box, one acoustic and two electric. Each of his records has been different, and 'that's hard for the business people to deal with. Some guys they have one trick and they keep milking it ... I suppose I'm getting to the age where I should think about releasing retrospective stuff, but I just don't have time.' |