The Great British R&B Festival, Colne, Lancashire
Jan Akkerman (Holland)

Jan Akkerman has done almost anything a musician could possibly do. He has worked with many different musicians - like BB King, Charlie Byrd, Cozy Powell, Claus Ogerman and Ice-T - besides being a former member of international acclaimed bands such as Brainbox and Focus and made more than a dozen solo records that showed his versatile playing without any boundaries or limitations. Whether it’s ‘Tabernakel’ (1973), the famous guitar-in-bed album ‘Jan Akkerman’ (1977) or his most recent studio outing ‘CU’ (2003), he explores and combines elements of rock, jazz, blues, classical or modern dance music and give those his own signature.  

On stage, Akkerman has been touring all around the world. Besides several appearances at Montreux Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival, his countless tours around theatres and different stages, the guitarist also performed far beyond Western Europe, in countries like Japan, Russia, North & South America and Australia. He also has a long-time fan base in many parts of the world. In his own country, Akkerman received a Golden Harp in 2005 for his complete oeuvre and again gained recognition and sympathy for his distinctive role in guitar music by many people.  

His latest cd/dvd-set ‘Live in Concert at The Hague’ shows the many sides of the guitarist: with his band during The Hague Jazz Festival in May 2007, a solo gig at the Output Festival in the Amsterdam Bimhuis and at a workshop ‘for all ages’ in 2006 in Roermond.  

Seeing Jan Akkerman live in concert is always a refreshing and fascinating never-to-be-repeated experience. Being an authentic improvisator he shows his maximal capability and, during band gigs, shares his affection on guitar with band members Coen Molenaar (keyboards), Wilbrand Meischke (bass) and Marijn van den Berg (drums).