JAN AKKERMAN 'SYLVIA' SOLO GUITAR & WITH BAND, 2009

[@johnshort5003]

When he plays Silvia it's never the same twice. Here is a jazz-classical arrangement, the man is a genius. My all-time favourite rock guitarist but playing jazz,classical and Renaissance lute as well.

[@paulbuxton1326]

Genius 🙏

[@yourtreat2]

He's still got it. One of the unknown greats. Really melodic. Love it.

[@Gabriel60FT]

One of the best GREAT GUITARRIST EVER on the world since ´70s. Mr. Jan Akkerman! Yeeessssssss !!

[@graveyarddisciplesscotland5074]

Absolutely! 1000%

[@sunnsight]

Jan...Jongen..Je hebt ons toch ontzettend laten genieten van je fenomenale gitaarspel...en dat vele jaren.....bedankt.....

[@ThorHammerdahl]

Jan is one of thoise players that CAN shred because he knows his instrument that well; yet he chooses not to which shows the great maturity of his playing. Akkerman is absolutely one of the GREATS!

[@pinball1970]

amazing. This guys head is just somewhere else. He was always the best.

[@mallard4998]

Without a doubt, one of the finest guitarists on the planet, just superb!

[@rolffleck1249]

Mein Favorit an der Gitarre....ein wirklicher Künstler

[@kissyxander]

I've always regarded Jan as the wildest most inspirational guitarist of my lifetime, this video shows exactly why... Many thanks for the fabulous upload.

[@edkawalec3360]

What a phenomenal guitarist! I've been a big fan for, well, since the '70's! Love the acoustic version of Sylvia, fantastic! Thank you for posting!

[@kcvidsonline]

There are very good guitar players and there is Jan... Al his acoustic stuff makes me smile.. Incomparable and totally recognisable, unique sound & feel.

[@san1fran]

What a wonderful talent!

[@Seagull780]

that guy makes me proud of my country!!!!

[@Supernaut70]

I agree, but Focus is one of the best.

[@paullevine1813]

Please don't forget the great Jukka Tolonen as well.

[@promerops]

I love the way he uses the wiggle stick to simulate Thijs van Leer's tremulous falsetto!

[@funkerella]

Indeed, almost like TvL is yodling ... 🙂

[@seph54]

Truly the finest guitar player I have ever seen or heard. I saw him in 1972 in the marquee in London.

[@lhpl]

It feels like all the veins and arteries going into the heart are pulled very taught and then used to play the song. ❤

[@g500d]

Just beautiful. His playing has become more "refined" over the years.

[@MekonMike]

Like a fine wine... just gets better with age!

[@kelvinwilson9217]

Akkerman is always at his best with acoustic jazz or classical. On In and Out of Focus, and Hamburger Concerto Aabums Jan is genius master on electric guitar.

[@terryhurley1]

The last couple of minutes of the electric "Sylvia" are just sublime. As a guitar player of 30+ years myself, I applaud a master.

[@brentcrude8565]

Thank you, uploader. The acoustic version just made this 49-year-old man cry tears of nostalgic joy.

[@Adipsia1]

I've loved Jan Akkerman since I first heard 'Sylvia' in the '70's. Jan never seems to have taken his playing too seriously... many fumbles and stumbles in this video, but it serves as a master-class in fusing classical with rock and jazz for us mere mortal bedroom guitarists.

[@hulldanfan]

+Peter Marshall You're so right Peter. Dont know where I heard, but I do believe that this was a new arrangement from Jan that was Work In Progress which may account for some of those stumbles. But then again the desire for super clean perfection has long since gone from Jans playing and I still love it. Shame he rarely gets out of Holland these days. I will have to go there one day to get a JA fix.

[@Adipsia1]

Me too.

[@promerops]

If you listen to "Focus at the Rainbow" he hits a beautiful wrong note playing "Sylvia" - for me it just adds to the enjoyment.

[@juantailor]

I rather enjoy that these guys are human too

[@CommodusSPQR]

Absolutely stunning!!

[@JohanFransen]

The acoustic part is funtastic! Thanx for sharing.

[@graveyarddisciplesscotland5074]

Jan Akkerman is a natural n a fkn genius!!!

[@soniaasweet]

Love YouJan💗❤🎸🎶👑

[@gabrielaespinoza1119]

Hermoso y un talento infinito, admiro demasiado a este guitarrista de todos lo tiempos, sovre los maravillosoa momentos en Focus.

[@nickhowes54]

I remember Focus' appearance on the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1972, when I thought that Jan was the best guitarist I had ever seen. I watched Jan and his band at Southampton a few weeks ago and have seen no reason to change my mind - spellbinding!

[@sed64]

Our fifth decade and hope for further years with this genius He’s the greatest 🧿

[@filippoterzaghii]

This makes me cry every time...

[@WvhKerkhof]

Zijn Focus periode kan hij zijn hele leven op teren, dankzij Gijs van Leer

[@bigfood9956]

Ein genialer Gitarrist

[@43lochness]

lovely !

[@blackbirdtwigg]

wonderful !! Thanks for posting this gem !!

[@paulbuxton1326]

Well said Peter one of the greatest.

[@Adipsia1]

If I could be any guitarist in the world for one hour... I'd trade Clapton, Hendrix, Stevie Ray, Satch and little Stevie Vai... just to be Jan Akkerman.

[@ralphyboy25]

+Peter Marshall That was always my opinion. Ever since I saw Focus perform live in 1973, it was clear that Jan was in a class above the rest.

[@Adipsia1]

Ralphy, I'd have loved to have been there but I was just 12 at the time, so the gig would have finished after my bedtime.:(

[@ralphyboy25]

+Peter Marshall That didn't stop me. I was 13..... I was a little bit advanced for my time...and didn't ask for permission.....First of many concerts in my early teen years.

[@Adipsia1]

I had a Telecaster copy with a fretboard like a cheese-grater, but was working through callouses on my fingers to learn 'Sylvia' at the time. Ah memories... :)

[@ralphyboy25]

***** Hamburger Concerto was a fantastic piece.

[@peithkichard]

VERY nice document(ary)! Jan finally won the fight against himself! the pleasure of playing spatters of the screen! fanx for posting! GREAT!

[@dpiccolo6807]

Cewrvfqvgwbehtu4o8l 9is

[@ivarus75]

Unreal!

[@paulwatkins2579]

Brilliant

[@williamking7420]

One of the best.

[@lordbrettsinclair2906]

wow , stunning

[@dennissutton3767]

Captain Scarlet II

[@achtsieben87]

You are so right. Hendrix, Clapton, Page, Akkerman, Van Halen - they are rather special.

[@briane5706]

achtsieben87 Steve Hackett?

[@Dennio83]

130 appreciations and 1 jealous person. Focus rules. Jan Akkerman is the ruler.

[@user-oscar-tkc]

素晴らしい動画をありがとう

[@gusband1]

Magic stuff...Great quality video too Vincent...

[@Foodie88]

I love his face as he looks to the crowd when he quotes "Layla" at 1:23!! hahaha

[@BECKOTHEKING]

Maestro!!!

[@stringsman12345]

held vriend

[@hulldanfan]

Spellbinding stuff !!

[@onemoremisfit]

Nice camera work too.

[@ImperialAerosolKid]

That's typically Jan. Here's one of the most famous melodies of the 70s and ( in the electric version @ 4:29) he starts with Here We Go, Here We Go, Here We Go. LOL Love it!

[@tone9930]

Jan man....

[@hulldanfan]

Jan uses a Stetsbar tremolo system. Plenty of information on the web about them.

[@christiansibbald7245]

Timeless Like I Always Play Real Perfect Timing Chris Married Sheryl Sibbald-Crow Musicians Love 20-7-2019

[@guitartonequest]

Anyone notice he threw in the riff from Layla around 1:26? A couple of important dutch players. EVH highly influential, Jan severely unappreciated.

[@DolleHengst]

Dutch guitar players always understood the art of music, performing on an academically high level, but having great fun in doing so. And they love to experiment. Symphony and Metallica was released in 1999, and considered ground breaking. In 1995 the Dutch had already done that, and better imo. Just for fun, out of curiosity. kzbin.info/www/bejne/naTdaYGZet1sgck Listen to this simple yet elegant acoustic version of Venus, by Shocking Blue's Robbie van Leeuwen kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYmvh5WhlJeWr5Y

[@promerops]

He also likes, when playing "Sylvia", to quote from that march we all know as "Be Kind to Our Web-footed Friends"!

[@MandyRRAh]

Love his little references to Thijs' wackiness.

[@anthonygill5621]

Hahaha, throws in the lick from "Layla" at 1.23, taking the piss out of Clapton again.

[@paullevine1813]

Please don't take this the wrong way , but that lick was Duane Allman's not Clapton's. True Jan was way ahead of Eric & still is but the dig here is he did toss that in & be a jab at Clapton or not he did it as that's the most recognized lick in that song.

[@hulldanfan]

@guitartonequest And with a smile on his face when he did it !

[@burnsmay]

Who needs shredders when you hear this

[@近藤勇-h5h]

哀愁を感じます

[@ramblingblues]

@Luukablee amen...

[@trevorord6871]

If anyone can point me in the direction of a tab for this version I'd be eternally grateful

[@petarkrstic6742]

Silvia will be my last wish before when i die.

[@the_lancaster_libertarian]

@burnsmay I AGREE!!!

[@edsonpagliarone400]

Um grande guitarrista, outrora muito subestimado pelo invejosos e críticos

[@3984ja]

@eshnic hai....

[@fj9fl61]

subliem

[@achtsieben87]

If I could be any guitarist in the world for one hour... I'd be EVH (without the drinking problem) or Rob Fripp (with a chair), or Leo Kottke (also with a chair). Otherwise I'd comfortably settle for Jan Akkerman with chair or no chair.

[@MrGpoulin]

Fripp is a completely different guitarist. Very creative and fascinating as well. Both are amongst my favorites.

[@opa301]

Where is the beard?!

[@vincentadriaanse2032]

If you look closely you can see it beneath his mouth, it's only smaller

[@ste123456754]

wont be the likes of these players ever again

[@dogsbay2]

how can you leave the best out of that list? Rory Gallagher.

[@Supernaut70]

Rory Gallagher is blues and some boogie. Akkerman is classic progressive rock, We can classify him with guitar players in the same musical current such as Andy Latimer of Camel or Steve Hillage. From Italy Franco Mussida and Robert Fripp

[@paullevine1813]

@@Supernaut70 Less we not forget one of Finland's greatest players , Jukka Tolonen . Sad he no no longer plays for health reasons but in his time along with Jan they were awesome players, & if you don't know Jukka , you should !!! Jukka had many problems latter in his life but he overcame them were Jan has been on top always. Don't take this the wrong way but Rory could play Jazz & any style he chose but your right he was a Blues Based Rock player at heart. Not bad on Harp & Saxophone either. Nice to hear at least someone else knows of Steve Hillage .

[@woutervansoest1087]

Geef 'm een tennisracket en dan klinkt hij nog beter dan de meeste " gewone stervelingen"...

[@3984ja]

Als ik toch maar half zo goed kon spelen...

[@gus3247365]

Just who the F was silvia ? why are you playing songs to her ?..TRIX ?