Live in America - Explore the Best of American Lifestyle, Culture & Travel | Perfect for Expats, Tourists & Dreamers

I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed when I received this CD, at least at first. Since there really wasn't much of a description available on Amazon (other than the record label, Classic Rock Legends), I ordered this thinking it could possibly contain some long-lost live chestnuts from the classic period of Focus featuring the lineup of Thijs Van Leer, Jan Akkerman, Bert Ruiter and Pierre Van Der Linden. However, I was wrong on both counts.This is the newly reformed version of Focus, which now consists of Thijs Van Leer and the members of a Focus "tribute" band from the Netherlands: drummer Bert Smaak, bassist Bobby Jacobs, and guitarist Jan Dumee. Van Leer heard the band live and liked them so much that he decided to join forces with them, at which point he give his stamp of approval for the project to be officially called Focus.After listening to the CD, I was surprised at how good the band is. Although the ravages of time and gravity have caught up with Van Leer, he's still in great voice and has lost none of his amazing dexterity on keyboards and flute. Bert Smaak and Bobby Jacobs form a tight rhythm section, and Jan Dumee is virtually a "reincarnation" of Jan Akkerman, playing the Dutch master's solos nearly note for note, and just as incredibly, replicating his unique guitar tone to a "T". No wonder Van Leer liked this band so much!There are a couple of surprises on this CD, the first is a great interpretation of "La Cathedrale de Strasbourg", from the 1974 album "Hamburger Concerto", the second is "Focus V" from the 1976 "Ship Of Memories" compilation. Neither of these songs have ever been performed live during the band's career. As to be expected, you'll find many Focus standards such as "Sylvia", "Focus II", and of course, "Hocus Pocus", which is played very much like the live version from 1973's "Live At The Rainbow". Van Leer lacks a bit of the vocal range necessary to reach the falsetto yodels on "Hocus Pocus", but he shines on the track nonetheless.This may not be the Focus of old as I thought it would be, but it's still good and worth seeking out. For longtime fans, it's a rare opportunity to hear Thijs Van Leer back in action. Pick this one up, you'll definitely enjoy it!