Thijs van Leer
Thijs van Leer ( born March 31, 1948 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch musician and singer. His main instruments are the flute and the keyboard. Together with the Dutch guitarist Jan Akkerman, he founded the band Focus.
Life
At the age of three he began taking piano lessons. At age eleven, he also got from his father paid a flute and began to learn this. In 1969 he finished training at the Conservatory and founded, together with Martin Dresden on bass and Hans Cleuver on drums trio. Towards the end of the year was Jan Akkerman to the band. From now on she was called Focus. In 1972, van Leer, a solo album. Since then published several albums and Thijs van Leer is a regular guest at festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival. In 1975 he married Roselie Peters.
In 2002, van Leer again a formation together, including with his old comrades, the drummer Pierre van der Linden, and went back as Focus on tour.
Since 2005, Thijs van Leer plays regularly at the Thomas Blug band and go on tour with them. The live DVD Guitar From The Heart was born.
Discography
Solo albums
- Introspection (1972 )
- O my Love (1975 )
- Introspection 2 (1975 )
- Musica per la Notte di Natale (1976 )
- Introspection 3 (1977 )
- Nice to have met you (1978 )
- Introspection 4 (1979 )
- Collage ( 1980)
- Reflections ( 1981)
- Renaissance ( 1986)
- Bolero (1989 )
- Introspection '92 (1992 )
- Instrumental Hymns (1997)
- The glorious album (1999)
- Bach for a New Age (1999)
With the Focus Group
- In and out of Focus (1971 )
- Waves moving (1971)
- Focus 3 (1972 )
- Hamburger Concerto ( 1974)
- Mother Focus ( 1975)
- Ship of Memories ( 1977)
- Focus con Proby (1978 )
- Focus 8 (2003)
- Focus 9 / New Skin (2006)
- Focus X ( 2012)
Guitarist Jan Akkerman & Thijs van Leer
- Focus ( 1985)
Van Leer band
- I hate myself for loving you (1986 )
With the group Pedal Point
- Dona Nobis Pacem (1981, double album on CD in 1990 ). Setting of the Latin Mass Ordinary ( "Rock Mass" ), all compositions by Thijs van Leer