JAN AKKERMAN & CLAUS OGERMAN: ARANJUEZ

Jan Akkerman collaborates with composer/arranger Claus Ogerman to produce this beautifully recorded and brilliantly arranged guitar and Orchestra project which features compositions from Rodrigo, Ravel, Villa Lobos as well as one composition each from Akkerman and Ogerman. Don`t expect a Miles Davis like jazz revamp of Rodrigo`s Aranjuez ( of which only the adagio section is presented here) and although Akkerman`s Les Paul is featured you`ll have to consult other Jan Akkerman solo work for his more pyrotechnical playing.

Relax and enjoy a very esoteric side of Jan Akkerman with exquisite guitar lines which feature a higher degree of concentration and quality heard on his unaccompanied baroque lute performances on the previous Profile and Tabernakel albums. Claus Ogerman`s masterful orchestrations with upright bassist Niels HO Pederson ( known for his recordings with various ECM artists) are illuminating and almost mesmerizing which create a moody atmosphere one would associate with the sound of a Fairlight synthesizer. A revistation to Akkerman`s Focus days come in the form of Love Remembered which has to be heard to be believed with the absolutely gorgeous strings which really add a moody feel to it.

Progressive rock fans might want to skip over this one because of it`s esoterism but it might appeal to those with more ambient tastes. Akkerman`s restless artistry is at it`s finest on Aranjuez and my only gripe is that is that only one section of Rodrigo`s masterwork was featured but otherwise an elegant candlelight dinner music selection.

It is available totally remastered by GOTT records or as a two CD set on CBS which also includes the album Eli, Akkerman`s 1977 collaboration with Kaz Lux.