TABERNAKEL

I was quite surprised about Jan Akkerman's placement in the Jazz-Rock/Fusion category after previously only hearing Tabernakel. Still, the shock that Focus fans must have received when purchasing this record back in the day must have been even more overwhelming since Akkerman incorporates very few themes from his band effort into this release.

The electric guitar is used very sparsely while giving more space to its acoustic counterpart, lute and organ. Even though two drummers are credited for their contribution, Tabernakel is mainly an acoustic affair with a few minor and one major exception to that rule. The album starts off with Britannia By John Dowland that was previously performed by Akkerman during his solo spot on the 1973 Focus At The Rainbow. This new take on the classic composition is much richer in its texture with orchestral sound backing up Jan Akkerman's performance. After two short acoustic pieces we get an out-of-the-blue drum intro that kicks off House Of The King with a bang. This is of course a re-recording of the the classic Focus track from their debut but with even more beauty added to it by the orchestral arrangement.

The remainder of side one carries on in the same stripped down acoustic tradition with only the slightly more mysterious sounding Javeh preparing us for what is about to happen on side two. A Fantasy By Laurencini Of Rome starts things off just where side one had left them with all the galliards preceding it. Once the first choir sounds of Lammy are heard it becomes obvious that something completely different is about to go down over the course of this 14 minute composition. We get an insight in many different sides of Jan Akkerman with even a section that can actually be described as fusion!

Even if I do enjoy all the individual moments that Tabernakel has to offer, I find it difficult to see it as one album since the different styles and compositions don't always necessarily work together that well. Still, there are enough interesting highlights that make me want to revisit this album from time to time and, thought that, giving me a better understanding for this release as a whole.

***** star songs: Britannia By John Dowland (3:59)

**** star songs: Coranto For Mrs Murcott By Francis Pilkington (1:30) The Earl of Derby, His Galliard By John Dowland (2:00) House Of The King (2:25) A Galliard By Anthonie Holborne (2:13) A Galliard By John Dowland (1:35) A Pavan By Thomas Morley (3:08) Javeh (3:25) A Fantasy By Laurencini Of Rome (3:22) Lammy (14:05)