Ottmar Liebert

Ottmart Liebert music is usually a pleasure to listen to. An this last album is among the best he has realeased along with Winter Rose, Poets and Angels. He understand the music and the "moods" that goes with it. A must listen to.

I have been listening to Ottmar for many years. This is an awesome achievement on his part, I think. I have not stopped listening since I bought it. A definite must for Ottmar fans!

There are some brutal reviews here. If you enjoy easy listening, then Nouveau Flamenco will satisfy. But I have to thank the reviewers who pounded Ottmar mercilessly yet recommended Paco de Lucia and Gerardo Nunez. Both play with amazing ability and the traditional flamenco is far richer than nouveau. "Entre Dos Aguas" and "Antologia Vol 2" by Paco de Lucia and "El Gallo Azul" and "Flamencos in New York" by Gerardo Nunez are highly recommended. Even though they are brief, the samples offered on Amazon will give you an idea of the flavor you are missing with Ottmar.

I'd normally avoid even commenting on such music, as it is usually not worth my time, but this....whatever...put "flamenco" in the title of his album, so I shall rate it accordingly.

As a frame of reference, I shall compare it to truly good "new" Flamenco by the likes of Tomatito, Paco De Lucia, Vincente Amigo and Gerardo Nunez.

This is utter....utter....UTTER garbage. He has no technique. He has no compas. He does not play Flamenco forms and, it is clear that he he ever tried, he would suck monumentally. The music doesn't even resemble Flamenco! He should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission for deceptive trading.

I might be willing to let it go if there was any artistic merit in his music, but there is none. We have pedestrian, repetitive "hey, look I've just learned to play guitar" garbage. Seriously: this guy is amateur in the extreme. You can hear infinitely better stuff in a cheap piano bar.

As a guitarist, I've played some pieces by Paco, but if I'm ever asked "Have you played any Liebert", my response shall be "No, but I think I may have stepped in some once".

Footnote: Amazon, why don't you allow a rating of zero stars?

Ottmar Liebert has contributed notably to a second air of the flamenco a heartfelt and moving Spanish rhthym so enjoyed for many people aropund the world.

This album encloses what we might call the real spirit of the flamenco in its different moods. On the contrary, I think this is a gratyfying album, plenty of inspiration and vibrant emotions.

NOVEAU FLAMENCO, by Ottmar Liebert, is an album that brings back memories of jazz dance recitals. We used to warm up to NOVEAU FLAMENCO, particularly the first track, "Barcelona Nights." Liebert has been equally criticized and proclaimed for his laid back approach to "nouveau flamenco." While flamenco purists will most definitely have some cutting remarks to make about this, his debut album, how sleepy and "plugged in" it sounds, others who are just looking for relaxing music that they don't have to think too hard about will definitely enjoy it. For me, this European born, Santa Fe-based musician balances his own jazzy licks with flamenco inspired guitar work, and it works well as back-up music. Would I shell out thirty dollars to see him live? Probably not. Yet, I definitely can't dislike NOUVEAU FLAMENCO's range of songs. While some are peppy, others are great if you are trying to get a good night's sleep. There's nothing wrong with that!

this record, is not the best work from ottmar but it have 3 of th songs i most like from him and also is a hard to get piece (at least in mexico), also i can add that i got it between the dates of the promised shipping

Great sound: crisp, sharp and classic... Great for easy background listening, as well as listening at higher volumes.

I have been a fan of Ottmar for a long time. This album is very good. Every tune is great to listen to. A great sound for all guitar music lovers.

Among the most creative and imaginative musicians in the last generations, Liebert must be included in the most representative lists. His creativeness and above all his powerful vision in what it concerns to the necessary oxygen the Flamenco needed, was intuited by him and so dedicated all his energies in search of its renovation, achieving a remarkable success.

To my mind the most interesting tracks of this valuable album are: Heart still beating, Barcelona nights, Santa Fe, Isla del sol, Bullfighter's dream and La Rosa Negra, but there is not any minor track.

If you really are searching for new inspiration motives and creative sounds, this album is a must for you.

I don't understand why people so closed mind, this is new millenium, think out of the box, there is no right or wrong about music, there's only about good or bad, who really care about so called "real" Flamenco, as long as easy listening, and creative, I think Liebert is very talented. I like "Barcelona Nights" very much, I play it in my car, at home, never tired of listening. Keep up your good work, Liebert, play more new song!

Disappointing all the way. You can call Mr. Leibert a sort of `Yanni' of the guitar. Need I say more?

Ottmar Liebert's debut CD "Nouveau Flamenco" was very good, showcasing his skills as an accomplished flamenco/jazz guitarist with a knack for creating a strong melody that leaves an indelible imprint upon the listener's mind. The music was sensual, passionate, and uplifting. "Borrasca" is basically in the same style as the first CD but with the added feature of a horn section to spice things up. And herein lies the problem.

It's not that I did not like the horns - I did. The sax and the trumpet were good. The problem is that one of the horns, especially the trumpet, was begging to grab the spotlight. And as a listener, I found myself anxiously waiting for the trumpeter (Jeff Elliott) to take center-stage and for the accoustic guitarist (Ottmar Liebert) to fade into the background and play a supporting role. At one point, in the middle of the title track "Borassca" it happens. The trumpet takes over and there is a release of tension. Suddenly, there's magic!

This is a good CD. It deserves 4 stars. But it could have been a great CD only if the trumpet was allowed to have the starring role.

Finally I've found an adequate companion to me favorite music collection.
This album is almost as great as Guitar on Fire by Alex Fox.
You'll never get tired of this incredible Flamenco tunes.

The fire of energy ran through me when I heard it for the first time. This was my first time exposure to Ottmar Liebert and his music. This is extremely good.

I heard this album almost ten years ago and became an Ottmar Fan! This is great, sassy, contagious music, If you like this album also check NOUVEAU FLAMENCO which is also great.

I first heard this album in a shop in Barcelona and bought it immediately many years ago. Even after so many years, the music is still beautiful and effortless, lively most of the time and quiet and soothing at other times. You don't need to get used to the guitar strings - Ottmar's guitar rhythms will grab you by the heart strings!! The recording is so clear that one can hear the musicians emotions behind each note. It's a must play when guests are over and they invariably end up buying a copy for themselves.

Estoy muy emocionado al escribir esta critica: la guitarra es como una pequeña orquesta, y los que han descubierto ese significado se deleitan al escucharla, eso fue lo que paso cuando por primera vez escuche a Ottmar Liebert, especialmente en este album, la belleza y textura del sonido logrado, asi como los arreglos tan originales de los clásicos cantos navideños.... es como si por primera vez sonaran estos antiguos villancicos, agregado a ello las piezas inéditas de la propia creación de Otmar... Simple si verdaderamente quiere deleitarse esta época navideña, escuche esta grabación, verá que inicia el siguiente año y aún estará disfrutando cada melodía....

Something different for the holidays! "Poets & Angels" features gently spicy renditions of familiar holiday tunes played by nouveau flamenco guitarist Ottmar Liebert, along with five original compositions. The traditional melodies are in there, but the Latin-style percussion and improvisational interludes and percussion set them apart from the usual holiday renderings. "Poets & Angels" is a fun, upbeat way to celebrate Christmas. Try also the album "Christmas" by guitarist and keyboardist Tino Izzo for another take on revamping traditional carols.

i was searching for a peaceful alternative to traditional christmas music--and wow did i find it?!! the soothing flamenco guitars are wonderful--i can't wait to hear his other music!

Heard this album at a holiday party last year, bought it, and now pleased to discover he has released many albums since this was released nearly 15 years ago. The music is upbeat and festive, and if you want a great album for your holiday party, this is the one. Enjoyed by all ages in my family (preschool up to retirees and inbetween). Happy Holidays!!

This holiday CD is great and something you can listen to all year long!

Regardless of the recording technique, this is one of OL+LN's best. It has been a very long time since I have heard music from any artist that has brought chills to my spine. "La Luna" is one of those songs that is immediately absorbed by your soul and takes control. You will be under it's spell until you are rudely awakened at it's end. Wow.

There remaining tracks will transform you to other distinations. You will feel the radiant heat of the sun, a cool desert breeze and the chill of the desert night. You will find yourself becoming an active participant to the music by clapping to many of the songs.

As for the "Dummy Head" recording technique, this is something that you need to experience. With an excellent set of headphones the effect is remarkable. With properly spaced loudspaekers the effect is outstanding. The technique does not distract you from the music but enhances the liveliness. This is one of the best digital recodings I have ever heard.

Outstanding.

I see all the negative and positive critics about this compilation and I just want to say that maybe is New Flamenco or maybe is not but this CD makes me feel very happy when I listen to it. And that is enough for me.
This is definitely not Elevator or Dentist music.

I would recommend this CD. A friend of mine had this Cd, I liked it so much I had to get my own copy. I have also had a lot of other friends ask about this CD.

I'm not a deticated fan of tis music as others may be but if you are oing to start anywhere, this is one you want. To me, all the songs are gtreat to listen to. The songs will take you to another world.

This CD is fantastic for anyone who loves Flaminco and the Flaminco guitar. It surges with energy and might just have you "dancing in the streets" or rushing out to sign up for lessons. Enjoy it; you won't be disappointed. P.S. I have heard and seen live Flaminco in Seville, more than once, and this one really took me back with even greater awe and admiration, in addition to the otherwise wonderful memories.

OK let me just settle all this criticism for all those who may want to buy this cd. First of all I play flamenco guitar professionally. There are 50 different styles of flamenco that are well know and countless others that arene't so well known.
Within those styles are hundreds of compas most based on the city in Spain of origin. There are a myriad of time signatures including the 12 meter hemiolic which most common in Bulerias.
I have reviewed this and other CD's like Flamenco chill and comment without reserve that these are flamenco songs. The "modernization" of flamenco music can be equated to blues appearing in every rock recording for the last 50 years. An old type flamenco recording would usually be a concert piece from Tarraga or Jerez or one those classically trained flamenco artists. It could well be argued that they classicized flamenco which ripped out all the guts and soul of the music. The amazing picado runs, powerful rageos, and alzapua licks are all mandatory elements of flamenco. If one would participate in a juelgo they would see a cajon, castenettes, palmas, cante, baille etc...this is a letre..a play of sorts with everyone responding to the cante. To listen to this in a recording would be like listening to the sound of a baseball game..there would be so much missing that it would be a complete waste of time.
SO stop tying to be mr. know it all and just enjoy music for what it is..an expression of human emotion....peace out

i'm an amature but trust me this fusion of guitars is one of the BEST your ears could ever..rythym,skill,harmony all in one.

I wholeheartedly agree with the 2 other reviewers. This is the first CD I turn to at Christmas. It is what I listen to while I decorate, and do any of those gazillion Christmas tasks on my list. I especially LOVE the B-Tribe song at the beginning. It gives me chills. I have to stop what I am doing and actively listen to it. I just get a feeling of being connected to the whole world and wondering what I could do to help bring peace to our world. I find all the music in this CD has me thinking in that vein. It really touches my soul. I find all the songs beautiful and earthy. But it may not be for everyone. It does have a lot of world music in it. If Santa is out there, can you make more of these types of CD's? I WISH that I could find another CD or two out there like this, made by the genius who put this together. That is what I want for Christmas, ... that and peace on earth!

I use this seasonal CD whenever I feel for an originality fix. This whole world in your hands com"YULE"ation from under the Atlantic label tree seems refreshing with each listen. Perhaps it`s the four tracks in unfamiliar tongue that allow for a dreamy flow of imagination and wonder. Perhaps it`s the exclusion of tried and true seasonal standards that for me have become like Santa`s sour milk and stale cookie treat left out at each house. Perhaps it`s the serenity of serendipious instrumentation that allows time for personal reflection upon the real reason. Perhaps it`s the "ideal model" for any label to use for a com"YULE"ation , as it favors more of a feminine anglelic vocalization to aid in seaonal balance. Perhaps it`s that one of my favorite Yultides ,that is just becoming a more of seasonal standard with each years passing, fills the ninith track here.Perhaps it`s the complier's intoxicating mix of track arrangement and the involvement of talent that truly defines feeling. Perhaps...ah no need to be rambling on. This CD is lost Yuletide Treasure and with so much orginality it`s worthy of a flyer by you. Merrily Mix : 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,1,3,14,and 15 ~ no bahhumbugs here.Post Script: Thanks for tune in to those before me.***buyit*saveit*shareit*giveit*donateittothelibrary***

This has become the release I cannot live without at Christmas. It is completely undiscovered and overlooked, having been released in 1995, and would be at the top of your favorites list if you heard it. The producers who assembled this incredible collection of moving music, which so thoroughly captures the spirit of the holiday season as well as any classic you can think of, deserve all too late praise for their taste and insight. Instead of relying on the familiar it makes the unfamiliar as comfortable and comforting as all of those warhorses one associates with Christmas. There are so many favorite tracks here it is unfair to break them out from the piece as a whole, even though they are all different artists performing a variety of styles and even cultures. Get this cd and be forever grateful to me--but more so to the idea of Christmas and the incredible job done by people I had (mostly)never heard of before. You will find peace and joy for a few dollars. Treat yourself.

While Ottmar's playing is not flamenco guitar, I play flamenco guitar and I love Ottmar's playing. I believe that La Luna, for example, is a well composed piece of music. I am tired of the bickering between traditional and non-traditional flamenco stylists, just as I am weary of the bickering between traditional bluegrass and "new-grass" players. In the end it is about the music. Liebert has a wide audience while many traditional flamenco musicians could not get an audience if they paid for one.

That said, one can argue all day about compas, duende, flamenco guitars made in Spain versus Ottmar's clearly wonderful DeVoe and Ottmar's audience will still follow him. Are they stupid because they do not follow the duende or passion of your god, or are they able to hear beyond what you will not?

I am sure that I have now fired-up the flamenco mavens. Given a choice I would rather pay to see Paco than Ottmar, but I don't have to choose. I can listen to both, and will. I enjoy each in different ways. Besides, I love the sound of that DeVoe!

La Semana hearkens back to the sound that you may have heard in the early '90s that first drew you to Ottmar's music. If you liked that Nouveau sound, you will like this CD as well. Don't feel guilty about enjoying away!

I love Ottmar Liebert and have most of his albums. This is a very enjoyable selection and a good addition to my collection of his music.

Flamenco traditionalists and innovators have always argued with one another, but every one of them despises Ottmar's phony music. He's embarrasing.

Just listen to 1 cut, at random, by Pepe Habichuela and you'll see what I mean.

This has got to be one of the best latin flamenco Cds i've heard!
It's mellow and technically good. It has rhythm heart and soul.

Check this one out if you're into any kind of latin flamenco music. you won't regret it.

Alluring and haunting music which captures your mind, heart and imagination is one way to describe 'La Semana'. It is like a very interesting book which reveals something new with turning of each page. 'La Semana' is like a beautiful painting which you never get tired of seeing day after day.
It's refreshingly original music is the best creation of Ottmar Liebert.

I have to agree with all the "real flamenco artists" that critize this guy's stuff. He is not what I would call flamenco at all. He is much more easy to listen to than the pounding, redundant, mashing sound of old world flamenco. I personally get enough of that stuff fast. I like pop music, acoustic stuff, be it folk, traditional or whatever. This guy put a twist on things that kind of brought a new age pop attitude to what some people like to call "spanish flavored" music.

It is unfortunate that Ottmar chose to emphasize his flamenco influences in his album titles and marketing. In so doing he has drawn the ire of all of these expert purist critics of guitar stylings. Some of these critics become so enraged that they sound like the uni-bomber going off on a rant.

Solo Para Ti was the first Ottmar CD I purchased. I love the stuff with Santana on this one. Yes, this music is perfect to listen to softly playing in the background while I read a book or something. I don't listen to this guy to determine how many notes he plays per second. I simply love the tonal quality and the relaxing feeling I derive from it. Later stuff of his like Opium is also great. I own a sailboat and during the summer we listen to Opium every morning as we sip our coffee and watch the the world greet another day. Calm and restful. This guy has a knack for creating mood and peace. I like all that and it would appear that a lot of other listeners feel the same. I give this a five star and I give Opium, and Hours Between fives also. I own some of his other stuff, but sometimes he gets too close to real flamenco for me and so I get up and change artists at that point.

I'd normally avoid even commenting on such music, as it is usually not worth my time, but this....whatever...claims to play "flamenco", so I shall rate it accordingly.

As a frame of reference, I shall compare it to truly good "new" Flamenco by the likes of Tomatito, Paco De Lucia, Vincente Amigo and Gerardo Nunez.

This is utter....utter....UTTER garbage. He has no technique. He has no compas. He does not play Flamenco forms and, it is clear that he he ever tried, he would suck monumentally. The music doesn't even resemble Flamenco! He should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission for deceptive trading.

And people who claim this is Flamenco are just ignorant. Sorry, that's what you get for talking about something of which you know nothing. If you want to learn, search for Paco De Lucia here on Amazon and listen to the available samples.

I might be willing to let it go if there was any artistic merit in his music, but there is none. We have pedestrian, repetitive "hey, look I've just learned to play guitar" garbage. Seriously: this guy is amateur in the extreme. You can hear infinitely better stuff in a cheap piano bar.

As a guitarist, I've played some pieces by Paco, but if I'm ever asked "Have you played any Liebert", my response shall be "No, but I think I may have stepped in some once".

This gets one star simply because Amazon doesn't allow me to give a score of zero.

Footnote: Some may note that my reviews for Ottmar's albums are strikingly similar to each other. Well, that's an indication of how consistently bad his material is. And yes, I forced myself to listen to this rubbish, so this is a fair review.

You must own Solo Para Ti. It is his best. This is one of my all time most played CDs - great mood music, great feel-good music, excellent.

I have long heard of Ottmar Liebert, but to be honest, have never actually heard his music. Then, by chance, I bought this CD. I'm hooked! It's a wonderful collection of music, blending traditional and modern Spanish guitar with light jazz and sensuous flamenco. The music is sometimes mellow, sometimes lively, but always a pleasure to hear. As an added bonus, Liebert is joined on this album by another great guitarist, Carlos Santana -- Samba Pa Ti was written by Carlos and he plays prominently on that. Together, these two great musicians, along with the band, put out some fantastic music. All but one of the songs are instrumental (except for vocal harmonies on Lilac Sun). The one vocal song (with lyrics) is Deep In Your Heart. I'm afraid to say that this was the only disappointing song on the album. It doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the album, and I don't care for the singing. Otherwise, the album is a gem of great music. I'm planning to buy other Ottmar Liebert albums, now that I know how good he is.

I first heard this at a friend's house & just loved it! I now have my own recording. I listen to it to be uplifted & dance.