Ottmar Liebert

2024-05-09T17:16:35Z

151.56.228.214: /* Discography */

{{Short description|German guitarist}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ottmar Liebert
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| image = OttmarLiebert_20180913.jpg
| caption = Liebert in 2018
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1959|2|1}}
| birth_place = [[Cologne]], West Germany
| genre = {{hlist|[[New-age music|New-age]]|[[smooth jazz]]|[[classical music|classical]]|[[flamenco]]}}
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = Guitar
| years_active = 1989–present
| label = {{hlist|[[Higher Octave Music|Higher Octave]]|[[Epic Records|Epic]]|[[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]]|[[33rd Street Records|33rd Street]]}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.ottmarliebert.com/}}
}}

'''Ottmar Liebert''' (born 1 February 1959) is a German guitarist, songwriter and producer best known for his Spanish-influenced music. A five-time [[Grammy Award]] nominee, Liebert has received 38 Gold and Platinum [[RIAA album certification|certifications]] in the United States, as well as certifications in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. His debut album ''[[Nouveau Flamenco (album)|Nouveau Flamenco]]'' (1990) was certified Platinum in the United States.

==Early life==
Ottmar Liebert was born 1 February 1959 in [[Cologne]], [[West Germany]], to a Chinese-German father and a Hungarian mother. As a child, he spent most of his time travelling throughout Europe and Asia with his family. He began playing classical guitar at 11, and studying [[flamenco]] guitar at 14, after he "found a Flamenco LP in the bargain bin at a local supermarket."<ref name=guitarhoo>{{cite web|title=Ottmar Liebert Interview|url=http://www.guitarhoo.com/interviews/ottmar-liebert-79|website=Guitarhoo.com|access-date=March 10, 2013|date=April 15, 2004}}</ref> After performing rock music in his native Germany, he moved to the United States and settled in Boston for a few years, performing in various rock clubs.<ref name="ottmar">{{cite web|title=Biography |website=Ottmarliebert.com|url=http://www.ottmarliebert.com/biography/index.php |access-date=14 May 2012}}</ref> In 1986 Liebert settled in [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]], where he began looking to create a new musical sound.<ref name="cowboys">{{cite web |last=Schnieder |first=Wolf |title=Ottmar Liebert |website=Cowboysindians.com |date=September 2010 |url=http://www.cowboysindians.com/Cowboys-Indians/September-2010/Ottmar-Liebert/ |access-date=14 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321074516/http://www.cowboysindians.com/Cowboys-Indians/September-2010/Ottmar-Liebert/ |archive-date=21 March 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="cc">{{cite web|last=Russell |first=Lawrence |title=Ottmar Liebert |website=Culturecourt.com|url=http://www.culturecourt.com/Audio/OL/OLbio.htm |access-date=14 May 2012}}</ref>

Liebert cites musical influences such as "[[Carlos Santana]], [[Paco de Lucía]], [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]], [[Robert Fripp]] and [[Jeff Beck]], others were horn players like [[Miles Davis]]," although he cites "others yet were fine artists who taught me about space and brush strokes and dynamics and contrast."<ref name="guitarhoo"/>

==Music career==
[[File:Lester DeVoe guitar.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A [[Lester DeVoe]] owned by Ottmar Liebert]]
In 1988, Liebert founded the first incarnation of his band Luna Negra (black moon). That year he recorded a self-produced album titled ''Marita: Shadows and Storms''.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=754}}</ref> The initial thousand copies were sold in the gallery of Santa Fe artist Frank Howell. When the record found its way to radio stations and began generating a response among listeners, [[Higher Octave]] Music picked it up and released a remastered version titled ''[[Nouveau Flamenco (album)|Nouveau Flamenco]]'' (1990).<ref name="Larkin"/> The album eventually sold double-platinum in the United States.

Liebert followed up his debut with several successful albums that continued and expanded his sound, including ''Borrasca'' (1991), ''Solo Para Ti'' (1992) and ''The Hours Between Night + Day'' (1993),<ref name="Larkin"/> all three earning Gold certification. Liebert's international success continued with ''¡Viva!'' (1995) and ''Opium'' (1996), both of which earned Platinum status in the United States and Latin America.

Liebert has recorded with Luna Negra since 1989. Personnel in the band have changed regularly since then, with the only constant being [[Bass guitar|bassist]] Jon Gagan.

Since 1990, Ottmar Liebert has released a total of 25 albums including live releases, Christmas CDs, 15 CDs of original music, a DVD, and various remixes. He has received 38 Gold and Platinum [[RIAA album certification|certifications]] in the US as well as certifications in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

In 2006, Liebert contributed his song "This Spring Release 10,000 Butterflies" to the album project Artists for Charity - [[Guitarists 4 the Kids]], produced by Slang Productions, to assist World Vision Canada in helping underprivileged kids in need.<ref name=AFCGFTK>{{cite web|title=Slang Productions - Guitarists 4 the Kids|url=http://slangproductions.com/artists-for-charity-guitarists-4-the-kids.html|website=Slangproductions.com|access-date=March 30, 2014|date=September 11, 2006}}</ref>

==Nouveau Flamenco==
Liebert describes his musical style as "Nouveau Flamenco." In a 2004 interview, Liebert explained that once he was signed to a record label, he was required to come up with a name for what he was doing. Although there are flamenco elements to his music, it's nothing like traditional flamenco, being based on melody and using much simpler forms. As this music couldn't be considered jazz, rock, or classical, he felt that flamenco was the closest word to use that people could identify with.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wbur.org/ |title=WBUR |access-date=2019-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905112658/https://www.wbur.org/ |archive-date=2019-09-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Liebert drew some criticism with his adoption of the term, especially since according to critics, none of his works to date followed traditional flamenco [[palo (flamenco)|palo]] forms. It was also perceived by some as a marketing ploy and an attempt to associate his music with the then burgeoning school of "[[New flamenco|Flamenco Nuevo]]", where acknowledged flamenco artists had started to rejuvenate and reinvent flamenco through the introduction of influences from Latin America (e.g. the Rumba rhythm) and even jazz music. [[Paco de Lucia]] was one such critic.<ref>"[https://www.houstonpress.com/music/review-ottmar-liebert-and-luna-negra-at-dosey-doe-11052572 Last Night: Musician and Zen Monk Otto Liebert Brought His Nouveau Flamenco to Dosey Doe]" by Lisa Strain, Houston Press, November 19, 2018.</ref><ref name="WashLifeMag">"[https://washingtonlife.com/2018/10/20/music-notes-ottmar-lieberts-flamenco-revolution/ Music Notes: Ottmar Liebert’s Flamenco Revolution]" by Steve Houk, Washington Life Magazine, October 20, 2018.</ref> Despite Liebert's citing Paco as an influence,<ref name="WashLifeMag"/> Paco described Liebert's music as "una degeneración, una caricatura del flamenco" (literally, "a degeneration, a caricature").<ref name="WashLifeMag"/> However, Paco later seemed to appreciate Liebert's music, with Paco's record company even mentioning him in promotional materials.<ref name="WashLifeMag"/>

==Personal life==
Since 1986 Liebert has lived in [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]]. In May 2006 Liebert was ordained as a [[Zen]] [[monk]] by [[Dennis Genpo Merzel]] at the [[Kanzeon Zen Center]] in [[Salt Lake City]], Utah.<ref name="cowboys"/><ref name="jmf">{{cite web |last=Batista |first=Lisa |title=Behind the Scenes with Ottmar Liebert |website=Jfmpresents.com |url=http://jfmpresents.com/tag/dennis-genpo-merzel/ |access-date=14 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324081427/http://jfmpresents.com/tag/dennis-genpo-merzel/ |archive-date=24 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Awards==
* ''Nouveau Flamenco'' (1990) Certified: Platinum – US, 14 x Platinum – US/Latin, Platinum – Australia, Platinum – New Zealand, Gold – Canada, Gold – Mexico
* ''Poets & Angels: Music 4 the Holidays'' (1990) Certified: 2 x Platinum – US/Latin
* ''Borrasca'' (1991) Certified: Gold – US, 4 x Platinum – US/Latin
* ''Solo Para Ti'' (1992) Certified: Gold – US, 2 x Platinum – US/Latin, Gold – Canada
* ''The Hours Between Night + Day'' (1993) Certified: Gold – US, 2 x Platinum – US/Latin, Gold – Canada, Gold – New Zealand
* ''Euphoria'' (1995) Certified: Gold – US/Latin
* ''¡Viva!'' (1995) Certified: Platinum – US/Latin
* ''Opium'' (1996) Certified: Platinum – US/Latin
* ''Leaning Into the Night'' (''Inclinado en la Noche'') (1997) Certified: Gold – US/Latin
* ''Innamorare: Summer Flamenco'' (1999) Certified: Gold – US/Latin
* ''Nouveau Flamenco: 1990–2000 Special Tenth Anniversary Edition'' (2000) Certified: Platinum – US/Latin

==Discography==

===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!|Year
!|Album
!|Certification
!|Charts, awards and nominations
|-
|1989
|''Marita: Shadows & Storms''
|
|
|-
|1990
|''[[Nouveau Flamenco (album)|Nouveau Flamenco]]''
|
*Platinum - US
*14× Platinum - US Latin
*Platinum - New Zealand
*Gold - Canada
*Gold - Mexico
|
* AUS #74<ref name="Ryan">{{cite Ryan|page=165}}</ref>
|-
|1990
|''Poets & Angels: Music 4 the Holidays''
{{Track listing
| title1=Deck the Halls
| length1=3:09
| title2=Angels We Have Heard On High/High on Hope
| length2=4:05
| title3=Poets & Angels
| length3=3:13
| title4=Little Drummer Boy/Luna Negra Beat
| length4=4:30
| title5=1st Nowell
| length5=5:04
| title6=Shepherd's Nite Watch
| length6=3:04
| title7=Away in a Manger/Island X'mas (4 Bok Yun)
| length7=3:40
| title8=Festival (Of 7 Lights)
| length8=2:52
| title9=Jingle Bells
| length9=3:41
| title10=O X'mas Tree (4 Anna + Barthelomaus)
| length10=2:07
| title11=Starry Nite (March Of Kings)
| length11=4:52
| title12=Morning Glory
| length12=2:29
| title13=Silent Nite
| length13=3:08
| title14=We 3 Kings (Of Orient R)/Santa Fe X'mas
| length14=3:19
| title15=O Holy Nite
| length15=4:57
}}
|
*2× Platinum - US Latin
|
|-
|1991
|''Borrasca''
{{Track listing
| title1=Isla Del Sol
| length1=3:44
| title2=August Moon
| length2=4:11
| title3=In The Hands Of Love
| length3=4:43
| title4=Dancing Under The Moon
| length4=4:38
| title5=Twilight In Galisteo
| length5=5:03
| title6=La Rosa Negra
| length6=4:25
| title7=Borrasca
| length7=3:34
| title8=Bullfighter's Dream
| length8=3:43
| title9=Thru The Trees/Cloudless Sky
| length9=3:57
| title10=La Aurora
| length10=4:08
| title11=Driving 2 Madrid (B4 The Storm)
| length11=4:08
| title12=The Storm Sings
| length12=3:59
| title13=Night In Granada
| length13=3:52
| title14=1st Rain/Cry Of Faith
| length14=4:32
| title15=Bajo La Luna Mix
| length15=6:19
}}

|
*Gold - US
*4× Platinum - US Latin
|nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album
|-
|1992
|''Solo Para Ti''
|
*Gold - US
*2× Platinum - US Latin
*Gold - Canada
|
* AUS #61<ref name="Ryan"/>
|-
|1993
|''The Hours Between Night + Day''
|
*Gold - US
*2× Platinum - US Latin
*Gold - Canada
*Gold - New Zealand
|nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] for Best New Age Album
* AUS #26<ref name="AUS">{{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Ottmar+Liebert|title=Discography Ottmar Liebert|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=1 September 2022}}</ref>
|-
|1995
|''Euphoria''
{{Track listing
|title1=Lush (La Calypso Mix/Edit)
|length1=4:53
|title2=Havana Club (The Latin Mix)
|length2=5:19
|title3=Lone Rider A
|length3=6:45
|title4=Slip
|length4=4:36
|title5=Havana Club (The Suspended Mix)
|length5=6:59
|title6=Lone Rider B
|length6=6:04
|title7=Lush (La Calypso Mix)
|length7=9:35
}}

|
*Gold - US Latin
|
|-
|1995
|''¡Viva!''
|
*Platinum - US Latin
|
|-
|1996
|''[[Opium (Ottmar Liebert album)|Opium]]''
|
*Platinum - US Latin
|nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] for Best New Age Album
* AUS #22<ref name="AUS"/>
|-
|1997
|''Leaning Into the Night (Inclinado en la Noche)''
|
*Gold - US Latin
|
|-
|1999
|''Innamorare: Summer Flamenco''
|
*Gold - US Latin
|
|-
|2000
|''Nouveau Flamenco: 1990-2000 Special Tenth Anniversary Edition''
|
*Platinum - US Latin
|
|-
|2000
|''Christmas + Santa Fe''
|
|
|-
|2001
|''Little Wing''
|
|
|-
|2002
|''In the Arms of Love: Lullabies 4 Children + Adults''
|
|
|-
|2003
|''The Santa Fe Sessions''
|
|
|-
|2003
|''3 is 4 Good Luck''{{#tag:ref|This limited edition mini-disc was only sold at 2003 shows and with Trilogy online (In the Arms of Love, The Santa Fe Sessions, Nouveaumatic).|group=N}}
|
|
|-
|2003
|''Euphoria: Nouveaumatic''
|
|
|-
|2004
|''La Semana''
|
|
|-
|2005
|''Winter Rose: Music Inspired by the Holidays''
|
|
|-
|2005
|''Tears in the Rain''
|
|
|-
|2006
|''One Guitar''
|
|nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] for Best New Age Album
|-
|2008
|''Up Close''
|
|
|-
|2008
|''The Scent of Light''
{{Track listing
|title1=Up Close: Beginning
|length1=6:40
|title2=Streetlight (Marseille, August 1999)
|length2=7:41
|title3=Silence: No More Longing (Utah, May 2005)
|length3=11:04
|title4=Firelight (Granada, February 1992)
|length4=8:37
|title5=Morning Light (Kham, October 2006)
|length5=5:12
|title6=The River: Writing in Water (India, November 1978)
|length6=7:59
|title7=Candlelight (Xiao Rem, February 2008)
|length7=9:37
|title8=Three Days Without You
|length8=6:49
|title9=Moonlight (Köln, April 2007)
|length9=5:11
|title10=Up Close: Embrace
|length10=5:37
}}
|
|nominated for a [[Grammy Award]] for Best New Age Album
|-
|2010
|''Petals on the Path''
|
|
|-
|2011
|''Santa Fe''
|
|
|-
|2012
|''Dune''
|
|
|-
|2014
|''three-oh-five''
|
|
|-
|2015
|''Waiting n Swan''
|
|
|-
|2016
|''slow''
|
|
|-
|2018
|''The Complete Santa Fe Sessions''
{{Track listing
|title1=Borrasca
|length1=1:37
|title2=Isla del Sol
|length2=3:57
|title3=Barcelona Nights
|length3=4:37
|title4=Reaching Out 2 U
|length4=5:42
|title5=Havana Club
|length5=4:21
|title6=Dancing Under the Moon
|length6=4:56
|title7=Snakecharmer
|length7=7:17
|title8=Sao Paulo
|length8=5:55
|title9=Song 4 Pablo
|length9=4:07
|title10=Turkish Night
|length10=5:50
|title11=2 the Night
|length11=3:43
|title12=La Rosa Negra
|length12=3:32
|title13=Heart Still/Beating
|length13=5:12
|title14=Santa Fe
|length14=3:32
|title15=Morning Arrival in Goa
|length15=6:27
}}

|
|
|-
|2019
|''Fete''
|
|
|}

===Compilations===
* ''Rumba Collection 1992–1997'' (1998)
* ''Barcelona Nights: The Best of Ottmar Liebert Volume One'' (2001)
* ''Surrender 2 Love: The Best of Ottmar Liebert Volume Two'' (2001)
* ''The Best Of Ottmar Liebert'' (2002)
* ''Spanish Sun'' (2009)
* ''Bare Wood 2002-2012'' (2014)

===Singles===
* ''Havana Club 12" 45'' (1995); Vinyl
* ''Havana Club'' (1997)
* ''Spanish Steps 12" 45'' (1999); Vinyl
* ''Little Wing - Radio Sampler'' (2001)

===Featured performances===
* ''[[Leap of Faith (Kenny Loggins album)|Leap of Faith]]'' by [[Kenny Loggins]] (1991)
* ''Lonely Chaplin'' by Goody's (1992)
* ''Edith Piaf Tribute: My Legionaire'' (1993)
* ''Monsoon'' by Asiabeat (1994)
* ''Hemispheres'' by [[Dan Siegel (musician)|Dan Siegel]] (1995)
* ''Burning Whispers'' by [[Néstor Torres|Nestor Torres]] (1995)
* ''[[Take Me Higher]]'' by [[Diana Ross]] (1995)
* ''[[Falling into You]]'' by [[Celine Dion]] (1996)
* ''Voci e Chitarre'' by Lavezzimogol (1997)
* ''Leda Battisti'' by [[Leda Battisti]] (1998)
* ''Sundance Flamenco'' by James Bobchak (1999)
* ''Azul'' by Alan (1999)
* ''Soul Encounters/Encuentros del Alma'' by Chuscales (1999)
* ''[[Ancient Journeys]]'' by [[Cusco (band)|Cusco]] (2000)
* ''Transit'' by Jon Gagan (2004)
* ''Transit 2'' by Jon Gagan (2006)
* ''Thira'' by Stephen Duros (2006)
* ''Tu, l'amore e il sesso'' by [[Leda Battisti]] (2007)
* ''The Art of Live Looping'' by Matthew Schoening (2008)
* ''Split Decision'' by [[Roy Rogers (guitarist)|Roy Rogers]] (2009)

===Produced albums===
* ''Soul Encounters/Encuentros Del Alma'' by Chuscales (1999)

===Videos===
* ''Wide-eyed + Dreaming – Live'' (1996), VHS and DVD

===Other compilation appearances===
* ''Guitar Music For Small Rooms'' (1997) (WEA)
* ''Gypsy Passion: New Flamenco'' (1997) (Narada)
* ''Obsession: New Flamenco Romance'' (1999) (Narada)
* ''Gypsy Fire'' (2000) (Narada)
* ''Guitar Music For Small Rooms 2'' (2001) (WEA)
* ''Gypsy Spice: Best of New Flamenco'' (2009) (Baja Records)
* ''The World Of The Spanish Guitar Vol. 1'' (2011) (Higher Octave Music)

== See also ==
*[[Johannes Linstead]]
*[[List of ambient music artists]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=N}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ottmarliebert.com/ Official Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra Site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060715204830/http://www.lunanegra.com/www/ol/biography/bio_frameset.htm Bio of "Opium" Album with reference to Stefan Liebert]
* [http://www.ottmarliebert.com/diary/ Ottmar Liebert Diary]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160105133924/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS Gold and Platinum Album Certifications (RIAA)]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Liebert, Ottmar}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American male musicians]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:Epic Records artists]]
[[Category:German guitarists]]
[[Category:German male guitarists]]
[[Category:Guitarists from New Mexico]]
[[Category:Higher Octave Music artists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Santa Fe, New Mexico]]
[[Category:New flamenco]]

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Ottmar Liebert