The second time that a FOCUS member played in Brazil was with Jan Akkerman in 1989, at the "Night of the Guitars" (Guitars Heroes) project organized by Miles Copeland (the first FOCUS member who played in Brazil was Philip Catherine in 1978 at the First Jazz Festival of Sao Paulo). Also participate on this festival Wishbone Ash, Alvin Lee (from Ten Years After), and Leslie West (from Mountain). The presentations took place at an old theater house called 'Projeto SP' (something like 'Sao Paulo Project') and in Rio de Janeiro. During the 80'S, Projeto SP brought to Sao Paulo international high level musicians such as Stanley Clark, Jethro Tull, Astor Piazzolla, among others.

In 1978 the same organizers of the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, produced the first Jazz Festival in Sao Paulo (Brazil), with most of the cast that played in Montreux. Keep in mind that Jan Akkerman made some presentations in Montreux, I asked him if he ever received a invitation to perform at the brazilian festival, and he answer me that he never received it because he was considered as a rock guitar player, his musical style couldn't fit the festival format.

Click the banner below to see Jan at the "Night of the Guitars":

Text by Rodrigo Mantovani, revised by Alex Castro.

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