JAN AKKERMAN: MINOR DETAILS
Minor Details represents Akkerman's ongoing adapting of technology and its benefits. It's an album that speaks to the new millennium's DIY approach to album-making, and if the album lacks the intrinsic chemistry of four guys playing together in a room, it's nevertheless a return to a more organic sound. The music runs the gamut from the buoyant opener "Free Wheeling," greasier, popping and slapping bass-driven "Big Sir," and the Steely Dan-esque "Dinnertime" and shuffle-driven "San Frisky," to the romantic ballad "Love Train," laidback "Kharmah Chantalah," ambling acoustic-electric guitar feature "Searching for Angela," and majestic album-closer, "Mena Muria." Throughout, Akkerman solos with the kind of astute ear for precisely what each song demands in terms of instrument, tone and approach, whether it's his restrained lyricism on "Mena Muria," gritty-toned but spare work on "San Frisky" or his more appropriate abandon and effortless virtuosity on "Free Wheeling," which also includes an impressive grand piano solo from Molenaar.
Tracklist:
1.Free Wheeling 2.Big Sir 3.Dinner Time 4.Love Train 5.Blind Baby 6.Minor Details 7.Joy 8.Fernando's Minibar 9.Kharmah Chantalah 10.Searching For Angela 11.As Long As You're Near 12.San Frisky 13.The Arrogant Frogs 14.Mena Muria
Lineup:
Jan Akkerman - guitars, composer & producer, Coen Molenaar - Hammond, Rhodes, keyboards, piano, Wilbrand Meischke - bass, Marijn van den Berg - drums, Eric Vloeimans - trumpet (7,13)