Santa Fe Sessions
Born in Germany and boasting a Chinese-European heritage, Ottmar Liebert is a platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated acoustic guitarist, who is often lambasted as a purveyor of flamenco-lite. However, it is natural that so cosmopolitan a figure should express himself via mixed influences. His sound is a seamless--some might say homogenized--blend of Spanish and other Gypsy influences, incorporating American jazz and rock, New Age, and even Euro-pop. Liebert is indisputably a fine technician, with a weightless, fleet, mellow touch. Ten of these 12 tunes are brand-new versions of hits originally recorded during the 1990s, such as "Barcelona Nights," "Snakecharmer," and "Dancing Under the Moon." Whether these light instrumentals please is a matter of taste, but Luna Negra's arrangements would be more effective without the hackneyed keyboard vamps. Ultimately, fans of the Gipsy Kings, Ketama, and Strunk and Farah will enjoy themselves, but flamenco purists might prefer Ramon Montoya, Juan Martin, or Paco de Lucia.--Christina Roden