To me live albums sit firmly in two camps. They can be towering stamps in the annals of music demonstrating how good a band was at a particular time. Think Live at Leeds by the Who, Seconds Out by Genesis or even Stop Making Sense by the Talking Heads. There is no obvious thread of commonality that elevates them above the rest but they are, in people’s consciousness and are worth playing again and again. Then there the other live albums that are far too numerous and not worth mentioning. Albums released to please those that were there on a particular tour, and getting extra income by selling product to fans but doing nothing to interest the casual listener.
Although Jan Akkerman might be one of the true guitar greats he is not on many people’s top ten of the greats so this album might not be considered by many to be an obvious entry into the higher category of live albums but I would like to make a case for its consideration.
I know and I admit that I am a fan, so it could easily be dismissed as just something I would buy because ‘I was there’, but there is something about the quality of the sound and the musicianship that captures the pure joy of the night I saw them and I would gladly play time and time again; not just because I like Jan as a musician but also because it is a great album.
A mix of his own material and Focus tracks it starts off with Spiritual Privacy, a smooth and jazzy start to the guitar led journey.
The tempo then increases a little with Answers to Questions – Questions to Answers, a track which is like an aural amuse bouche that takes the listener onto the next two tracks, Focus 2 & Focus 1. Even if the original were originally recorded by his former band, and having heard these by them, as well I would put a case forward that these are better. Focus 1 just seems to, somehow, capture a spirit of yearning was there when I saw them perform it live and it still generates the same emotions as it did then.
Next up is Palace of the King, a track that is a close relative to Focus’ House of the King. Less flute and a more laid-back guitar with the original musical theme popping in and out but without the flute and different enough to make it interesting.
Anonymous then picks up the pace and demands that the volume be cranked up so the neighbours can enjoy it as well, whether they want to or not. A wonderful demonstration of the band playing in perfect harmony with the pounding drums of Marjin Van Den berg, the solid bass of David De Marez Oyens and the, dare I say, funky beat of the keyboards, care of Coen Molenaar.
Then the album moves into jazz territory but not too smooth to make it sickly and the intensity increases as it goes along. Big Sur is up-tempo and is definitely interesting enough to keep even the most jazz-phobic person listening.
With a seamless transition there is Tommy’s Anniversary, a track from his 2019 Close Beauty album. I have always found this piece of music to be beautiful, and this live recording captures the grace of the original.
After that came Piétons. I had to look up the meaning and it translates from French as ‘pedestrian’ (or it could be Python in Latvian, but I doubt it). And do not let the title fool you, there is nothing pedestrian about track or performance. This is sharp and could easily be the soundtrack to a road-trip across the American Midwest in an open top car, the sun beating down but that just adds to the trip.
Hocus Pocus is the penultimate track. A thundering version of the Focus track from the Moving Waves (Focus II) album. A fast version and I would argue that the piece was too short, but being a prog fan I could say that about many pieces of music.
Finally, there is the classic Sylvia. It is an old trick to hide an original favourite with an obscure and unrelated tune but it soon enters the familiar territory and delivers the tune with added guitar to leave the audience, and album listener, wanting more.
TRACK LISTING
01. Spiritual Privacy (9:11)
02. Answers Questions – Questions Answers (5:03)
03. Focus 2 (4:34)
04. Focus 1 (7:23)
05. Palace of the King (5:08)
06. Anonymous (4:40)
07. Big Sur (9:45)
08. Tommy’s Anniversary (9:08)
09. Piétons (6:45)
10. Hocus Pocus (2:55)
11. Sylvia (4:46)
Total Time – 69:18
MUSICIANS
Jan Akkerman – Guitars
Coen Molenaar – Keyboards
Marjin Van Den Berg – Drums
David De Marez Oyens – Bass
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Mascot Label Group | Artone
Country of Origin: The Netherlands
Date of Release: 12th December 2025
