Retro Album "of the week" 49 - Aranjuez

In 1978 a very sophisticated collaboration between Jan Akkerman and Claus Ogerman appeared. The incredibly laid back album features the legendary guitar playing of Dutchman Jan Akkerman and the lush strings of German conductor and arranger Claus Ogerman. The programme is dominated by classical pieces. First, we have the adagio from Rodrigo's 'Concierto De Aranjuez', a piece Akkerman would play in the early Focus days but that there were some copyright issues with hence the preference for Le Clochard on Moving Waves. Other classical pieces are by South American composers Heitor Villa-Lobos and Gaspar Sanz. Ogerman himself contributes Nightwings and Akkerman a very subtle Love Remembered. The other track is Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte by Ravel. The album is not that easy to get into but once you do it is excellent stuff. The album was mostly recorded in Holland.