Jan Akkerman - Jan Akkerman (1977/2022)

A collection of tightly arranged jazz-rock with as much of an emphasis on the Joachim Kuhn's keyboards as on the ostensive title attraction. "Floatin'" uses the backdrop of Pierre van der Linden's proto-techno drumming to showcase Kuhn's talents on the electric piano, and the lengthy "Angel Watch" gives Kuhn even more room to stretch out, though the latter is made rather tiresome by its incessant hi-hat disco beat. Akkerman's guitar is more subdued here than in his work with Focus; "Crackers" alternates between brittle, reverbed plucking and lush strumming, and only the gentle acoustic guitar and strings of brief closing track "Gate to Europe" give much of a nod to his progressive fans.