(2019) JAN AKKERMAN - CLOSE BEAUTY

mtr-logo_white
JA_CB_SalesheetHeader_1000x250

BIO

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.

 

At 72 years old, the supremely gifted guitarist is equalled by very few and his legendary ability makes him impossible to pigeon hole. His position as Dutch royalty has been cemented, he received the Golden Harp Award in early 2005, Holland’s most prestigious music prize and in 2012 he was appointed Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau, a royal honour that acknowledged his contribution to Dutch music and his influence on musicians around the world.

 

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 as 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.

Download the full
English bio:

 

word-doc-icon

 

Download the full
Dutch bio:

 

word-doc-icon

 

VIDEO

ALBUM

To download the album art, right click on the image and choose save image as.
To download the album art, right click on the image and choose save image as.

Tracklist:

1.      Spiritual Privacy (Sunset Tango)
2.      Beyond The Horizon
3.      Reunion
4.      Close Beauty
5.      Retrospection (Emotional Debris-The Power Behind The Throne-Hear The Trees Whistle For The Dog-Euridice)
6.      Passagaglia
7.      Tommy's Anniversary
8.      Don Giovanni
9.      Meanwhile in St. Tropez
10.    French Pride
11.    Fromage
12.    Good Body Every Evening

Album info:

Release date: October 25, 2019
Available formats:
Gold 2LP, CD Digipack and Digital

Additional info:

You need to Log In to see all the content (Press & promoters only).
If you don't have a login, please request access using the contact form page.

Press-pack:

Download the album art, photos, bio etc.:

zip-icon

 

PHOTOS

To download the high-resolution version, please right click on the photos and choose "save link as" to start download.
If you want to download all the photos at once, please download the press pack.

TOUR