Ottmar Liebert Biography
1963, Cologne, Germany. On being given a guitar at the age of 11, Liebert found his emotional release. Classically trained at the Rheinische Musikhockschule, he later travelled Europe absorbing musical influences from Russia to Spain, where Flamenco first fired his imagination. Even so, his early bands were in a jazz/funk groove, first in Cologne, then in Boston, Massachusetts in the early 80s. A move to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1986, found him working in restaurants, simplifying Flamenco styles to forge a dynamic contemporary instrumental sound, which he developed further in 1988 when he formed the group Luna Negra. His 1989 limited edition CD, Marita: Shadows And Storms, brought exposure on the west coast New Age radio network, and was picked up by the Higher Octave Records label who reissued it as Nouveau Flamenco. Reaching large audiences as support to Basia on her 1989/90 tour helped it peak at number 3 on Billboard's Adult Alternative chart.
A move to the major Epic label brought Solo Para Ti in 1992, with guest appearances by Carlos Santana. Another valuable support on Natalie Cole's Unforgettable tour in 1992 broadened his profile, and in 1993/4 Luna Negra toured extensively in Europe and South America. The Hours Between Night And Day found him interpreting soul and blues standards, while the subsequent Euphoria featured remixes by Steve Hillage and others, aimed at the ambient-ethnic-dance crowd. Liebert tried his hand at classic rock with Little Wing, stamping his individual style on Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" and the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black".
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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