Results for "Focus"

About Focus

Results for pages tagged "Focus"...

Musician

With their unique brand of progressive rock, Focus manifested themselves at the start of the '70s as the most successful and appreciated of all the Dutch pop-rock exports. Fronted by founding member Thijs Van Leer, and best known for their hits "Hocus Pocus", "House of The King" and "Sylvia", as well as critically acclaimed albums 'Moving Waves', 'Focus 3' and 'Hamburger Concerto', the iconic Dutch music masters are back with their tenth album, which is guaranteed to please their legions of fans!

After a comeback in the early 2000's, which resulted in the well-received albums 'Focus 8' and 'Focus 9', the band regrouped with a fantastic new line-up. Along with Thijs van Leer on vocals, flute and keyboards, back on the drums is famed Focus drummer Pierre van der Linden, who joined the group on their second album 'Moving Waves' in 1972. Internationally renowned for his rhythmic skills, Pierre remains a defining factor in the Focus sound. Guitarist Menno Gootjes, who participated in Focus at an earlier stage, and acclaimed bass player Udo Pannekeet, complete the band's current line-up. Recently, Focus's biggest hit "Hocus Pocus" was used in a 4-minute Nike commercial before the World Cup broadcast. Focus music can be regularly heard on Top Gear and Saxondale on TV in the UK.

Album

Focus

By Bobby Wiens

Label: Self Produced
Released: 2026
Track listing: Go Back to the Beginning; Focus; Hat Trick; Devoted Heart; Sun Dance (For Al Foster); Hermann; Headed East; Morning Run; Mantra; For AJ; Minor Dilemma; With God on Our Side

Article: Album Review

Bobby Wiens: Focus

by Jack Bowers
August 16, 2026

There are times when superb musicianship can redeem an album that may otherwise be gauged as no more than ordinary. Focus, Canadian-bred drummer Bobby Wiens’ second recording as leader, marks one of those times. Even though the album’s dozen themes are, aside from a few outliers, matter-of-fact, they are so marvelously performed by Wiens’ talented quartet ...

Article: Album Review

Bobby Wiens: Focus

by Kyle Simpler
June 18, 2026

Even though a recording is a finished product, it still captures the feeling and intensity of the session. When players have a good working rapport, everything translates through the music. Clearly, the musicians assembled by drummer Bobby Wiens for his second album, Focus, share a strong rapport, and that chemistry is evident throughout the recording.

Song of the Day

With God On Our Side

June 3, 2026

Album: Focus
By Bobby Wiens
Label: Self Produced
Released: 2026
Duration: 07:24

Album

Focus

By Soft Ffog

Label: Is It Jazz?
Released: 2025
Track listing: Camel; Pocus; Focus; Oh Jimi.

Article: Album Review

Soft Ffog: Focus

by Glenn Astarita
August 27, 2025

Soft Ffog, a Norwegian jazz-prog quartet from Bergen, emerged with their self-titled debut in 2023. Led by guitarist Tom Hasslan, the band features keyboardist Vegard Lien Bjerkan, drummer Axel Skalstad and bassist Trond Frønes. With nods to 1970s giants like Camel, Focus Soft Machine and Mahavishnu Orchestra, they blend intricate prog rock with improvisational jazz, evoking ...

Article: Album Review

Steve Smith and Vital Information: Time Flies

Read "Time Flies" reviewed by Scott Gudell

by Scott Gudell
June 11, 2023

As with so many prolific drummers, this guy is lean, energized, crisp and knows when to add the snap. Drummer/percussionist Steve Smith's early professional musical explorations were often in the world of jazz as he teamed up with fusion violinist Jean Luc Ponty and the progressive jazz/rock Dutch band Focus for about a year in the ...

Article: Live Review

Jan Akkerman And Friends at Café de Noot

by Ian Patterson
January 3, 2020

Jan Akkerman And Friends Café de Noot Hoogland, The Netherlands December 28, 2019 Is there a more exciting electric guitarist on the planet than Jan Akkerman? For most of those packing out Café de Noot the answer is no. When Akkerman is on form there are few electric six-stringers to ...

Article: Album Review

Focus: 11

by Glenn Astarita
March 17, 2019

If the artwork looks familiar, yes, it's by Roger Dean who created album cover artwork for progressive rock icons, Yes, Gentle Giant, Uriah Heep and other notables. Dean continues his phantasmagoric images via his work for this pivotal 1970s and 80s Dutch prog unit, Focus for its 11th studio album, featuring founder Thijs van Leer (keys, ...