Ottmar Liebert

Ottmar Liebert is a German-born composer and guitarist, born to a Chinese-German father, and a Hungarian mother. As a child, he spent most of his time traveling Europe and Asia with his family. Ottmar, who leads an ensemble called Luna Negra ("Black Moon") has gained popularity performing as a touring band, and recording music albums in a "Nouveau Flamenco" style, mixing elements of flamenco with jazz, bossa nova, Hindu meditation music, and other genres.

A malleable, ever-changing band

Luna Negra's music can be difficult to categorize, which is a fact fostered by the artists themselves. The albums are usually placed in the New Age section at record stores, or under world music from Spain. Ottmar Liebert has recorded with Luna Negra since 1990, sometimes preferring all-at-once, live recording, and disregarding customary studio resources like editing, overdubbing, etc. but surprisingly achieving high quality results nonetheless. Ottmar describes Luna Negra as a "rubber band"--it changes with the seasons, members are always coming in and out. The band differs markedly when on tour from the one that gathers to record in studios. The only constant members are Ottmar himself and bassist Jon Gagan. Brother Stefan Liebert has contributed only occasionally.

The artist's evolution

Ottmar, a Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling guitarist and composer, has always been a creative thinker and doer. He has traveled extensively through Europe and Asia intent on fully absorbing each musical tradition he encountered. After pursuing his rock and roll dreams first in his native Germany and then in Boston, he settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico. By 1989, he had founded the first incarnation of his Luna Negra band. The ground-breaking album Nouveau Flamenco began life as a self-produced local release called ´"Marita: Shadows and Storms", copies of which local artist Frank Howell distributed in his art galleries. When the record found its way to radio stations and began generating a buzz among programmers and an unprecedented response among listeners, Higher Octave Music picked it up and released a re-mastered version.

Since 1990, Ottmar Liebert has released a total of 23 albums, including live releases, Christmas CDs, 10 CDs of original music, a DVD and remixes. His debut album sold double-platinum and has become one of the best-selling guitar albums ever. Luna Negra's fans – hardcore guitarists and guitar fans, instrumental music aficionados and numerous lovers of their often poignant, always inspired sound – are ardent in their appreciation.

Discography

Albums

Marita: Shadows & Storms (1989) - Limited to 1000 copies, sold in the gallery of Santa Fe artist Frank Howell

Got 2 Go (When Love Calls) (?) - Not published, tape only

Nouveau Flamenco album cover Nouveau Flamenco (1990)

Poets & Angels album cover Poets & Angels (1990)

Borrasca album cover Borrasca (1991)

Solo Para Ti (1992)

Sante Fe album cover Santa Fe (Single) (1993)

The Hours Between Night and Day album cover The Hours Between Night + Day (1993)

Euphoria (1995)

¡Viva! album cover ¡Viva! (1995)

Opium (1996)

Leaning Into The Night album cover Leaning Into The Night (1997)

Havana Club album cover Havana Club (Single) (1997)

Rumba Collection 1992-1997 (1998)

Innamorare album cover Innamorare - Summer Flamenco (1999)

Nouveau Flamenco 10th album cover Nouveau Flamenco - 1990-2000 Special Tenth Anniversary Edition (2000)

Christmas + Santa Fe album cover Christmas + Santa Fe (2000)

Barcelona Nights album cover Barcelona Nights: The Best Of Ottmar Liebert Volume One (2001)

Little Wing album cover Little Wing (2001)

Surrender 2 Love: The Best Of Ottmar Liebert Volume Two (2001)

In The Arms Of Love album cover In The Arms Of Love (2002)

The Santa Fe Sessions album cover The Santa Fe Sessions (2003)

3 is 4 album cover 3 is 4 Good Luck (2003) - Limited Edition Mini-Disc, only sold at 2003 shows and with Trilogy online (In The Arms Of Love, The Santa Fe Sessons, Nouveaumatic).