Leaning Into the Night
Synonymous with the New Age-approved "nouveau flamenco" genre he spawned, Liebert takes an ambitious turn onLeaning, performing a set of works by Satie, Villa-Lobos, Ravel, and Puccini with a full orchestra under the direction of Brazilian guitar maestro Oscar Castro-Neves. Liebert's no classical ace--as he'll gladly admit--but the same well-meaning audacity that turned his watered-down flamenco technique into music of nevertheless universal appeal serves him well here. Though he lacks the technical command of a Christopher Parkening, his round tones and sure delivery work well against Castro-Neves's epic arrangements, resulting in exactly the kind of trancelike romanticism Liebert has established as his trademark.--James Rotondi