Thijs Van Leer - Introspection 4

The last collaboration between flutist and member of Dutch progressive rock group Focus, Thijs Van Leer and arranger/producer/composer Rogier Van Otterloo was released in 1980. Just like the first three installments of this series, it features Thijs Van Leer on Flute, the beautiful voice of Letty de Jong and the orchestra was arranged and conducted by Rogier Van Otterloo. Once again the result is astounishing as the arrangements and the performances make these classical pieces become standard versions and the original compositions make a superb match for the classical tone. This album has been remastered and it is now available as sold by the great re-issue company BGO Records.

Track Listing:

1. Arcangelo (gigue from sonata op.5 n.9 - Corelli)

2, Introspection 4 (Rogier Van Otterloo)

3. Rondeau Des Enfants (Thijs Van Leer)

4. Grave, Allegro, Adagio, Allegro (sonata en E minor - Handel)

5. Le Tango (Thijs Van Leer - Roselie Van Leer)

6. Air (Telemann)

7. Pastorale (Scarlatti)

8. Largo E Dolce (J.S.Bach)

9. Siciliano,Allegro (Handel)

10. Song For Eva (Theme from Exit 7) (Van Leer - Ruiter)

Buy Introspection 4 at Amazon or from BGO Records

Thijs Van Leer - Introspection 3

This third collaboration between flutist and member of Dutch progressive rock group Focus, Thijs Van Leer and arranger/producer/composer Rogier Van Otterloo was released in 1977. The concept remains the same as in the first two installments of this series and the result is just as beautiful. It features Thijs Van Leer on Flute, the beautiful voice of Letty de Jong and the orchestra arranged and conducted by Rogier Van Otterloo. The album was conceived and produced by Ruud Jacobs and John J. Vis and it was recorded at the famous Dureco Studios, in Holland. This album has been remastered and it is now available from the great re-issue company BGO Records.

Track Listing: 

1. Reigen Seliger Geister

2. Roundeau

3. Adagio

4. Brother

5. Sicilienne

6. Rondo III (sampled above)

7. He Shall Feed His Flock

8. Focus V

Buy Introspection 3 at Amazon or from BGO Records

Thijs Van Leer - Introspection 2

Flutist and member of Dutch progressive rock group Focus released the second partition of the "Introspection" series in 1975. This beautiful second collaboration with Dutch arranger/producer/composer Rogier Van Otterloo elaborates even further the concept of classical masterpieces mixed together with elements of pop music, including some originals by Van Leer himself, resulting in a beatifully crafted production. This production is available on CD paired with "Introspection 1". There is a remastered version on CD with a different cover, which is currently out of print.

Track Listing:

1. Goyescas No IV (Quejas - La Maja y el Ruiseñor) (sampled above)

2. Rondo II

3. Introduction

4. Siciliano

5. Focus III

6. Larghetto & Allegro

7. Introspection II

8. Sheep May Safely Graze

9. Mild Wild Rose

10. Bist Du Bei Mir

11. Carmen Elysium

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Thijs Van Leer - Introspection 1

During his years of playing with Dutch progressive rock super group Focus, founding member, flutist Thijs Van Leer ventured into the realm on semi-classical music by joining Dutch producer arranger Rogier Van Otterloo. This LP was the first of a stream of productions they did together before van Otterloo's passing in 1988. The result was magical. The covers of classical musical pieces were done to perfection blending elements of pop music with the integrity of the masterpieces and viceversa, the original compositions sound as part of the same repertoire. Although corny at times and bordering on muzak (sometimes called "Elevator Music"), these beautiful and superb orchestral arrangements by Van Otterloo create a concept, which is attractive to any music lover, even the hard core fans of the group Focus. This production is available on CD coupled with their second rendition. The remastered version is no longer available on CD.

Track Listing:

1. Pavanne (Fauré Op. 50) (sampled above)

2. Rondo

3. Agnus Dei (from Mass in B minor JS Bach)

4. Focus I

5. Erbarme Dich (from St. Matthew Passion JS Bach)

6. Focus II

7. Introspection

Available at Amazon or at CD Universe

Tys Van Leer - Nice To Have Met You

One of the weirdest songs ever to sneak into the American pop charts was “Hocus Pocus” by Dutch progressive rock super group Focus, led by Thijs van Leer. The song peaked at number nine in the spring of 1973. From then until 1977 Focus had gained worldwide popularity so van Leer ventured into the solo jazzy field by going to New York and recording this album for Columbia Records. This was sort of his American debut. He even changed his first name from Thijs to Tys. The album was produced by percussionist Ralph McDonald and sax player Tom Scott and it mixed all of van Leer’s classical roots as a composer and flutist with his accomplished piano and organ playing. Personnel included a line-up of New York finest studio musicians: Ralph MacDonald on congas & percussion, Richard Tee on keyboards, Eric Gale, Eef Albers and Steve Khan on guitar, Anthony Jackson on bass, Harvey Mason on drums, Tom Scott, Michael Brecker, Alex Foster, Lou Marini and Ronnie Cuber on saxes, Randy Brecker and Jon Faddis on trumpets, Barry Rodgers on trombone, plus a string section & some background vocals. This rip from vinyl is generously provided by Smooth of the former blog My Jazz World. Unfortunately this album has never been released on CD.

Track Listing:

1. My Sweetheart

2. Nice To Have Met You

3. Pastorale

4. Bahama Mama

5. Hocus Pocus

6. Tonight Beneath The Sky

7. Rosebud (sampled above)

8. Super Ffishell

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Focus - Focus 9 New Skin

After some 35 years after Dutch progressive rock super group Focus was formed, its founding member keyboardist/flutist/vocalist Thijs van Leer reunites with former member of the 70’s line-up, drummer Pierre Van der Linden to produce “Focus 9” in 2006. This time they enlist two younger players, Bobby Jacobs on bass and guitarist Niels Van Der Steenhoven. Together they manage to recapture the original sound of the band as if this production was a follow-up to any of their 70’s albums. The classic van Leer Hammond organ leads the baroque jazz-rock mixture typical of Focus although his distinctive flute is not a present as before and his yodeling and vocal effects have turned from the humoresque/burlesque to the grotesque. Van Der Steenhoven guitar playing, although not as raw as Jan Akkerman’s, (former Focus guitar player), brings a new dynamic rock edge to the band and Jacobs bass playing blends perfectly with the old school sound of Van der Linden drums. The songs are reminiscence of the main beautiful compositions of the old Focus repertoire and even incorporating various titles of Focus songs and albums and even from Van Leer’s solo work. This is a great effort to recapture the fan base and attract new listeners by going back to basics. Unfortunately, this CD is being sold at Amazon at ridiculous prices but you can find it at Red Bullet Records for 10 Euros.

Track Listing:

1. Black Beauty
2. Focus, Pt. 7
3. Hurkey Turkey, Pt. 2
4. Sylvia's Stepson – Ubatuba (sampled above)
5. Neils' Skin
6. Just Like Eddy
7. Aya-Yuppie-Hippie-Yee
8. Focus, Pt. 9
9. Curtain Call
10. Ode to Venus
11. European Rap(sody)
12. Pim
13. It Takes 2 2 Tango
Buy it at Red Bullet Records or  
Buy Focus 9/New Skin at Amazon