Classic Rock Start Page DVD Review
Focus - Live In America
1. Focus I
2. House Of The King
3. Focus II
4. Eruption
5. Focus III
6. Brother
7. Sylvia
8. Focus V
9. Cathedrale De Strassbourg
10. Harem Scarem
11. Focus VII
12. Flute Improvisations
13. Hocus Pocus
© 2003 Classic Rock Productions
Focus e-mail: focuscontact
Focus website: www.officialfocushomepage.nl
Go back in Classic Rock-time with Focus!
Maestro Thijs van Leer, together with 3 younger musicians, reformed Focus in 2002, and they bring back the Focus-sound, after all these years. Classic songs like "Hocus Pocus", "House Of The King", "Sylvia" and "Harem Scarem" played Live in the Patriots Theatre, New Jersey, where the USA-fans had the evening of their lives.
Once more the Hammond, played by Van Leer, is present prominent, sounding like in the ol' days! And as usual he plays the flute as well, and again it gives something special to the songs.
Guitarist Jan Dumée plays the guitar very subtle and sometimes modest, no doubt about his technical skills. However, comparing him with Jan Akkerman wouldn't be fair. These two guys have their own style of playing.
Bassplayer Bobby Jacobs is like most bassplayers: functional, modest and just a very good, technical player (if you're able to see them "Alive", watch his bass-solo!!).
Bert Smaak on drums completes this line-up: left-handed, but nevertheless no problem with the drumsticks and -kit!! Sitting on a chair (!) he plays a solid part of the Focus-sound.
Some 30 years later the material hasn't lost its power, timeless as it is.
This DVD also includes a previously unreleased medley from 1973 as bonus material, featuring Jan Akkerman, Pierre van der Linden, Bert Ruiter and Thijs van Leer in Focus' most successfull line-up, and interviews with the current members of Focus.
Still there are some remarks to make:
There are passages that one has the feeling that image and sound aren't well synchronized, and as far as I'm concerned drums and bass sound very thin, what gives the guitar and organ unintentional prevail.
And please, next time put the, for the rest, good looking interview-lady behind the camera, 'cause everytime I see the interviews I get the feeling that she loves to interview herself!
Enjoy!!
Review by: Clemens Steenweg, May 2003