JAN AKKERMAN 'HOCUS POCUS', SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR 2009

[@RONNYGUITAR1]

It's very generous of Him to play it at a moderate speed for us mortals.

[@GuitarIngenuity]

;-) Brilliant comment, Ronald! After I saw this video, I wasn't sure whether I should feel inspired or completely disillusioned....

[@RONNYGUITAR1]

Ulrich Peise ALWAYS choose "inspired"!

[@noelmajers6369]

That clunk your can just about hear half way through is John Mclaughlin's jaw dropping to the ground...

[@rientsdijkstra4266]

those fingers are 73 years old

[@angelamayes8118]

@@rientsdijkstra4266 now thats a gift and a half Its called TALENT He's practiced through the years too you can see it. Timing etc... I have a family full of musicians and I LOVE IT

[@TessPaige]

One of the best and perhaps the most under rated guitarist in the last 50 years.

[@travelpointone991]

Underrated? He was voted Best guitarist in the world's by NME. Before Clapton.

[@WELLBRAN]

@@travelpointone991 but when you get these crazy things who was best ever he is never mentioned I think that is what the first comment meant if you asked people in music circles they would not even know the name Jan Akkerman .

[@travelpointone991]

@@WELLBRAN Thats simply because he’s not from the UK or the US. If I ask my American friend about Jan Akkerman he has no clue. But if I tell him Focus he knows. He is not a solo well known performer like Eric Clapton. Also he performs with people around him in Dutch bookshops, something Clapton wont do because he is world famous.

[@WV591]

when Jan Akkerman did HOCUS POCUS, all english guitar masters and american guitar players went into shock and never recovered.

[@TrulygreenSolution]

I think Jan Akkerman is one of the greatest and most skilled guitarists of all time!

[@1stcSOLDIER]

He is in my top 8 favourite of all time!

[@robster7316]

His left hand/right hand coordination is off the charts.

[@ultraroadmap]

Jan Akkerman was so far ahead of his time in 72...heavy metal guitarists took a while to catch up!...what a great acoustic performance...probably can't be touched by most metal players.

[@woodchuk1]

ultraroadmap Akkerman could probably have been credited with inventing the fusion genre to an extent...I don't remember exactly when Al Di Meola came on the scene, but I imagine if Akkerman was doing this in '72, that would have been at least 4 years before Al started making a name for himself. As I recall, he didn't start gaining momentum until Elegant Gypsy around '76 or so. He was in Return to Forever prior to that, but I don't know if they ever made quite the mark that he did on his own. Anyway, Akkerman could very well be one of the pioneers of the genre, and this song is the perfect reason why. It's a jammer in every sense of the word and still holds up 45 years later.

[@richardsinger01]

I doubt there ae any metal players that come close to Akkernann in terms of virtuosity and versatility.

[@marshalzhukov5229]

Wow. Didn't realize Hocus Pocus had such deep classical roots...as brought out in this version. Akkerman HAS to be one of the best guitarists EVER!

[@charliechan1966]

he plays classical and medieval music too.

[@thomasmead4642]

@@charliechan1966 He also plays Renaissance lute.

[@madbebopper]

Yes, Jan is one of the most underrated guitarists in the entire world and should be front page news in the ridiculous trade magazines of music. I flew 2000 miles to see him in person on his one and only US visit in 27 years and it was well worth it.

[@danieljordan7089]

This dude makes that 6-string sound like a 12-string! Awesome!

[@ARPSMUSIC]

What a guy, what a talent! One of the few Dutch artists with attitude!

[@m7alan7johnson7]

I do hope you jokers who are claiming you watched this twice and got it down note for note are truly joking! I'm not the best but I've been playing 35 yrs of hard rock to metal and so on thru the decades and this guy is AMAZING. I stand humbled by what he can do and wouldn't dare to embarrass myself claiming it's simple. Like I said, I hope you're just joking.

[@graysinclair6572]

m. alan Johnson Preach it brother. This man is an absolutely gifted guitarist PERIOD. He was indeed ahead of his time in 1972! The whole band was.

[@mistersidartez]

BEST stuff ive Heard in many years!

[@jimhare313]

not quite beginners, no. but hearing it on acoustic has made all the difference !i now understand completely. here hold my guitar ive got a beer to drink.

[@bdgrandin]

Wow why do I even bother trying when there is talent like this out there. Outstanding. What a natural wonder

[@ste123456754]

this guy is simply amazing in a class of his own

[@alexander4766]

One of the best guitarists of the last 50 years!

[@michaelcullen5308]

Finally, a camera operator who knows which hand to look at!

[@alanthorne3921]

Both hands are important.That right is the clue to the speed.

[@WELLBRAN]

And Focus III one of the best albums ever made ... Still got mine!

[@ArielGuitars]

One of my favorite guitar players ever.

[@samiamdj8603]

Reinforces how great a guitarist Jan Akkerman is. He makes the shortlist of the best guitarists that the "Best Of" lists missed. Along with the late Terry Kath and Elliot Randall to name a few

[@johnchristian442]

Virtuous. Focus was always the best example I had of modern pre-Platonic quality driven musical artists. I love the freedom from convention and duality that is exemplified here.

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

Every time I watch this it blows me away. Jan Akkerman😎😎😎😎😎

[@Lizard-of-Oz]

This is the first time I hear an acoustic guitar solo at that speed and it doesn't sound crappie. I've seen Yngwie Malmsteen considered one one of the greatest neoclassical guitarists in the world, playing solos with an acoustic guitar and it sounds horrible. This guy here is fast, but not only that! ...Clean!! by the way. I have heard the original song and it's amazing. It's just really stoning that giving his age, still plays solid.

[@nickthornhill9724]

Unbelievable! (Saw them live at Cambridge Corn Exchange in 1970 something - best gig ever)

[@Gioagla]

Focus is a great part of my culture , and all the time i listen a tune of them i just say to miself in silence : thank you Focus for doin all this great stuff for us

[@MatthewBerginGarage]

A day spent listening to Focus is "Time Well Spent"🙋‍♂️😉😊

[@huskvarsm]

He's awesome got entranced by his playing as a twelve year old kid when focus appeared on the old grey whistle test " an English version of rockplast " he'll always be in my top ten.

[@chooch68]

See, you can shred with soul! Jan is the OG shred god.

[@rayberczik7251]

Still ripping up the fretboard as good as ever! And on an acoustic guitar just to show off!! I love it!!

[@carlosaraujo9037]

Just one Word... Brilliant....

[@freemonkey118]

Halfway through this video the frame rate began to slow down, then I realised. Jan Akkerman has broken the internet with rock!

[@FergyGuitar]

Pure musical genius, I shall say no more other than I have been listening to this tune since the early 70's and still don't know how the Hell he does it either electric or "acousstic". Wonderful.

[@virgilrobertsjr7870]

When Focus did the song, "Hocus Pocus" it sent shockwaves through the known universe! ☆☆☆☆☆ 💯

[@charold3]

Akkerman is the guitarist to whom the most superlatives are attributed.

[@GlenBraeDude]

I recall catching Focus live in '73 a couple of times in SF. I was really impressed then, Jan, with your playing throughout the band's sets. I can see you've been, um, embellishing this tune just a bit since. Damn! I thought I had it down cold. Yeah, right. Play on.

[@muthapaluka]

his 1973 release Tabernakel is still one of my favorite guitar records & this performance is amazing;

[@gregoryjimijames8640]

What a great guitar player explosive playing Thanks for sharing

[@stephenparry5968]

¡¡¡Maestro!!! Gracias...¡qué manera de tocar bien la guitarra!

[@bartobruintjes7056]

The god of guitar!

[@JCHaywire]

All joking aside--it is nice to see these chords more clearly, albeit at a billion miles an hour. Akkerman seems to have refined his broad-brushing pick hand in his older age, much like Bill Monroe did on the mandolin. It shows an extreme familiarity with the tune after wearing it into his psyche for decades. Amazing.

[@tyke58]

Just goes to show what a few lessons and listening to Focus records can do !! Seriously..................... Amazing !!! Jan is The Man.

[@gsf67]

Jan Akkerman, has to be the most under rated guitarist in the world, he's in the same league as the likes of other virtuosos like Tommy Emanuel

[@kelvinraybon9283]

Beautiful tone of a Lowden in the hands of a master

[@stephendavis5530]

Few of the people who teach Hocus Pocus on guitar for KZbin would touch the solo. I wondered why. Then I heard the solo and didn't wonder any more! 😀

[@MrSteviek52]

One word....Astonishing! 👏🏻👍🏻

[@94saabguy]

Thank you for posting this!

[@MrRRHHMM]

He's a guitar Hero of mine.. Focus were FAB...

[@rubenschiri7609]

You might say this is natural talent, or much training, or both, i say this is freedom of expression. Ther`s great musica like this playing inside every one of us. The hard part is to let go of our fears, toughts and hinderances and shine

[@aodhanodonnell3681]

This young man is quite the bass player I anticipate he has a promising future

[@tiekbane]

No arthritis there.

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

still love it!!

[@gamer966]

Malmsteen and Akkerman... Te two gods of music

[@mikebarnard2689]

Waiting to 3:20 to hear recognizable chords Quite a challenging improvisation.

[@PAD939]

One of a kind, for sure

[@xtcdd]

LOVE IT! Groeten uit Holland weer! Wes

[@gregoryolsen4509]

What can one say but brilliant! :-)

[@4dorno]

Genius

[@JuanchOliva]

i like it, it has something cool that i cant describe

[@treeskesoentken]

Echt prachtig.

[@Stuiterkuiken]

Bloody brilliant. That will be all.

[@MartijnHover]

I can see his fingers move... But where are they going??? (Nigel Tufnel) ;-)

[@Nr1from1978]

That's why he was voted worlds best guitarist once. Even Brain May looks up to him. Imagine that. Queens Brian May.

[@datapolo]

Who?

[@Flemmingdoerken]

Very demystifying!

[@QuarterAfterThree]

THOROUGHLY enjoyed this :)

[@invictalegend8554]

Allways great

[@Driecnk]

Natural talent

[@janbehaeghel1518]

Fabulous!

[@TarmacMcAdam]

Sublime

[@jangeosol]

Well done sir.

[@dennisandvicki]

Jan is so badass it isn't funny.

[@rexvisitor44]

He was shredding before shredding was invented.

[@Noitpure]

Excellent playing! Wow! Simple strumming for all! : ) Great beginners lesson! LOL

[@paulvanduivenbode7592]

Master! 💪😎👍

[@promerops]

Virtuosity - wow!

[@waskozoids]

thank you

[@viennapalace]

So you want to be a guitarist? This is the top of the hill you're climbing. Good luck...

[@tomyg2]

Brilliant

[@kleinebudde335]

Anybody knows what kind of chords he's playing and what scales he's using in between? I want to understand his playing just a bit.

[@Kgio-2112]

Nope

[@thies1983]

Jan Akkerman is God.

[@johnnybs7]

oh yeah that's made it real easy now!

[@KCBarr1]

LOL right eh

[@kelvinwilson9217]

Akkerman at his best in semi acoustic..

[@naturalbornscorpio929]

Awesome !!

[@DS-bi3fz]

I cannot even SEE that fast.

[@jimhare313]

clear as bell

[@7merkaba7]

Born in 1946, i wish i could play like that now that i'm 26, HE'S 63!!! (well, 65 now)

[@fishboy91]

Music is one of those things that you can get better at as the years go by. He has been playing for around 40 years. At this point he should be this good :)

[@demej00]

75 now.

[@TheWinwil]

Interesting version. Anybody know what guitar model he is playing?

[@andzwe]

Not sure, but I think it's a Lowden.

[@edwardmiller2249]

only the late Robert Johnson could give him a run for his money..so to speak...Akkermans playing is brilliant.

[@michaelware1649]

I'm a little slow, I had to watch this FIVE times before I could play this note for note! Speaking of note, on a more serious one, Akkerman is an extraordinary guitarist, but you don't seem to hear much about him.Sad.

[@chadmorris4042]

WTF was that holy s#%t so good

[@chimalpopoca9291]

Tsssssss...nunca imaginé que hubiera una versión de Hocus que cuando menos se le "acercará" a la original ..tendría que ser de su coautor !..ni tampoco imagine que hubiera alguien tocara la acústica como John McLaughlin!

[@jilderth]

@madbebopper I totally agree with you!

[@neurosynchron]

Nice acoustic shreds from the guitarist with the most Attack On Titan name.

[@todoroki]

That is how you play a Lowden guitar!

[@tallboyrelaxed]

@TheWinwil I think this is his Lowden Guitar

[@burnsmay]

@TheWinwil It's a Lowden guitar

[@malcolmlowe1935]

What sorcery is this?

[@kenshiro11]

I knew him of a vídeo of him playing with paco de lucia.

[@Chris.P.Noodle]

That guitar was fingered so fast, it had to have a cigarette and a lie down afterwards.

[@vinto34]

Lit it from the strings.

[@solaroberto7435]

WOOOW

[@nickhogai]

***** stargate669 Would you share it? I need it too xD

[@ceesvdveldt2315]

Jan is God 2!