Focus: The Dutch Architects of Progressive Rock and Jazz Fusion

Focus is one of the most iconic progressive rock bands to emerge from continental Europe. Formed in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1969, Focus became internationally recognized for their unique blend of classical music, jazz, rock, and Dutch folk influences, delivered with both virtuosic precision and a healthy dose of humor and experimentation.

Led by the multi-talented Thijs van Leer—a classically trained flautist, organist, and vocalist—and virtuosic guitarist Jan Akkerman, Focus became one of the few non-English-speaking bands to break into the international progressive rock mainstream during the genre’s golden era in the early 1970s.

Formation and Early Years

Focus was formed by:

• Thijs van Leer – Keyboards, flute, vocals
• Jan Akkerman – Guitar (joined shortly after formation, key to their sound)
• Hans Cleuver – Drums
• Martijn Dresden – Bass

Initially rooted in instrumental jazz-rock, their early sound evolved rapidly into full-blown progressive rock with classical and baroque flourishes, improvisational jazz sections, and avant-garde vocalizations.

Focus Plays Focus / In and Out of Focus (1970)

Their debut album introduced a blend of blues, jazz, and psychedelic rock with hints of classical influence. It’s less focused (pun intended) than their later work, but it showcased their willingness to experiment.

Key tracks:

• Focus (Instrumental)
• House of the King – Became a hit in the Netherlands; often likened to a Baroque dance with a rock beat

Moving Waves (1971): Breakthrough and Global Fame

This album catapulted Focus to international acclaim and is widely considered their masterpiece.

• Featured the massive hit Hocus Pocus—a blistering instrumental track full of guitar shredding, flute flourishes, whistling, operatic yodeling, and sheer insanity.
• Balanced this with the 23-minute suite Eruption, a multi-part epic inspired by classical motifs.

Highlights:

• Hocus Pocus – One of the most distinctive rock instrumentals ever recorded
• Eruption – A progressive rock epic in the vein of ELP and Yes
• Focus II – A lyrical instrumental track showcasing Akkerman’s sensitivity

Focus III (1972): Prog and Jazz Fusion Mastery

A double album that solidified their status as serious progressive rock innovators, blending jazz improvisation with classical structures and melodic rock.

Highlights:

• Sylvia – A beautiful, melodic instrumental that became a European hit
• Focus III and Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers! – Long, expansive instrumental explorations
• Anonymous II – A 26-minute jazz-rock fusion piece

This album showcased Jan Akkerman’s guitar genius and Thijs van Leer’s melodic ingenuity, often compared to the telepathy of Robert Fripp and Keith Emerson.

Hamburger Concerto (1974): The Symphonic Peak

This album represents their most refined and symphonic effort, featuring a full-blown 20-minute title suite based on Johannes Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Haydn.

• A masterpiece of classical-rock fusion
• Orchestrally inspired, with lush keyboard textures, baroque progressions, and dynamic guitar work

Highlights:

• Hamburger Concerto – One of the best examples of 1970s symphonic prog
• La Cathedrale de Strasbourg – A haunting blend of melody and classical form

Mother Focus (1975): Fusion and Funk

A controversial turn toward lighter, jazzier, and funkier territory, Mother Focus divided fans.

• Less complex and more accessible, with shorter instrumental tracks
• Still musically impressive, but less “prog” than previous efforts

Highlights:

• Mother Focus
• Soft Vanilla
• Focus V

Lineup Changes and Decline (Late 1970s)

By the late ’70s, Jan Akkerman left the band after creative and personal tensions with Thijs van Leer. Subsequent albums like Ship of Memories (1976, a collection of outtakes) and Focus con Proby (1978, with singer P.J. Proby) failed to capture the magic of the classic lineup.

The band eventually dissolved in the late 1970s.

Reunions and Revival (2000s–Present)

Focus reunited in the early 2000s with Thijs van Leer at the helm and a new generation of musicians:

• Jan Dumée, Pierre van der Linden, Bobby Jacobs, and later Menno Gootjes on guitar
• Released several new albums, combining new compositions with the spirit of their classic era

Notable recent albums:

• Focus 8 (2002)
• Focus X (2012)
• Focus 11 (2018)

While never recapturing the global success of their 70s peak, these releases were warmly received by longtime fans and maintained their instrumental integrity and progressive soul.

Musical Characteristics

• Instrumental mastery – Long stretches of wordless music driven by guitar and flute
• Classical and baroque influence – Bach, Brahms, and Renaissance forms permeate their writing
• Jazz fusion improvisation – Particularly in extended jams like Anonymous II
• Eclecticism and eccentricity – Their work could jump from majestic symphonics to whistling or yodeling within minutes
• Emphasis on melody – Even in their most complex pieces, melody always remained central

Legacy and Influence

• One of the few continental European bands to find global success during the 1970s prog boom
• Inspired bands in prog, jazz-rock, and fusion scenes
• Hocus Pocus remains a cultural staple—featured in films, commercials, and live covers by artists like Iron Maiden
• Cited by artists like Steven Wilson, Mike Portnoy, and Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt as a formative influence
• Jan Akkerman is often hailed as one of the greatest guitarists of the prog era

Why Focus Matters

• They brought a uniquely European sensibility to progressive rock—blending continental classical elegance with rock’s energy and jazz’s freedom
• Showed that prog could be both technically dazzling and wildly fun
• Left behind a catalog that’s as quirky as it is beautiful
• Their music remains a gateway into the more eclectic and artful side of the progressive canon

Conclusion: Focus – Baroque Fire and Progressive Wit

Focus carved a space in progressive rock that no other band has quite filled. They fused rigorous musicianship with daring unpredictability, offering listeners a journey through jazz fusion, classical grandeur, and joyous eccentricity. Whether you’re marveling at the controlled chaos of Hocus Pocus or getting lost in the gentle tapestry of Sylvia, Focus invites you into a world of instrumental color, creative freedom, and timeless melody.

Essential Albums:

• Moving Waves (1971) – Their international breakthrough
• Focus III (1972) – A double album of extended instrumental magic
• Hamburger Concerto (1974) – Their most symphonic and refined work
• Mother Focus (1975) – A lighter, funkier side of the band
• Focus 11 (2018) – A strong modern statement from the revived lineup

Focus: where classical elegance dances with jazz improvisation in the realm of progressive rock.