Touch Of Class

NTSC/Region 0. Set up at short notice, this Jan Akkerman concert was filmed at Virgin Records 'The Venue' as a Christmas Special, one night after Tina Turner's massively successful six week residency. It is this London concert footage of Akkerman that forms the basis of this DVD. The Jan Ackerman Band of 1983 included Hans Waterman from Solution and Cubby & the Blizzards, bassist Dino Walcott and occasional keyboards player Mark Van Deer Greer. The music featured in this DVD is almost exclusively taken from two albums - Jan's then current offering Can't Stand Noise and Tabernakel - the first album of five solo albums Akkerman released with Atlantic Records throughout the 70's. The production not only features highlights of the performance at the Venue but also Jan in conversation discussing his music that he candidly describes as adapted from the best of baroque and black music. Somewhat understandably included within the film is the reference point of BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test footage of Akkerman playing 'Sylvia' and 'Hocus Pocus' with Focus in 1973. Voiceprint. 2005.