German Ottmar Liebert composes, performs and records music in a "New Flamenco" style, which mixes elements of flamenco with jazz, bossa nova, and other genres. Ottmar Liebert's music can be difficult to categorize, which is welcomed by the artist himself. It is usually placed in the New Age section at record stores, or under world music from Spain. He has recorded with his band, Luna Negra, since 1990. Liebert describes Luna Negra as a "rubber band"--it changes with the seasons, members are always coming in or out. The only constant members are Ottmar himself and bassist Jon Gagan.

The Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling guitarist has always been a creative thinker and doer. He 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 band Luna Negra. 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, 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. His fans – hardcore guitarists and guitar fans, instrumental music aficionados and numerous lovers of his often poignant, always inspired sound – are ardent in their appreciation of Liebert.

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Fans of the Immortal school of black metal will appreciate the brutal rhythm riffing and driving percussion. Devotees of melodic deathmetal will certainly approve of the intricate yet unpredictable leads and solos. Anyone who likes old or new Testament will find Invocator to be similar without being at all derivative. So, who -wouldn't- like it, then? I dunno... there's probably some jerk out there. Don't be that jerk. (c) starvox.net

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