Customer Reviews

Ottmar Liebert: Leaning Into The Night

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first found Ottmar when his Nouveau Flamingo CD was playing in a gift shop on the Cape Fear River in Wilmington, NC in 1993. Since then, I have found his music to be some of the best of New Age Jazz. But this album. WOW! No matter what style of music one prefers, this is simply one of the most beautiful albums I have ever heard. Incredibly powerful! Thank you, Ottmar!

Ottmar Liebert is surprisingly graceful, restrained and subtle on this sincere and authentic ode to classical Spanish guitar. Liebert succeeds in exploring the subtly colored emotions of classical Spanish guitar music. There is a light flavouring of New Age in this CD, but in the very positive sense of authentically vulnerable tenderness rather than sappy sentimentality. It is clear that Liebert is treading new ground for himself here, and he does so with a refreshing and charming openness. A very pleasant CD that grows on you, and that can be played either in the foreground or the background.

I am a fan of Ottmar's work so I did not hesitate when I found a copy of this album for sale. Though not a terrible record it is not what your average Ottmar fan has come to expect. The orchestral arrangements are clumsy or forgettable at best - inappropriate and dischordant at worst. Ottmar's guitar work is mostly relegated to plinking along - sometimes in a slightly dissonant fashion - on top of the orchestral arrangements. None of it is horrible, and a few cuts are even interesting, but my guess is that the typical Ottmat Leibert fan won't be listening to this CD more than once or twice. There are FAR better choices for anyone who likes Ottmar's work. Stick with his more popular stuff and save having to trade this in for somethign else (as I will be doing).

This is simply one of the best CD's I have in my collection of approximately 2000. Incredibly beautiful, accessable, and seems to get better with every listen. Anyone who likes Jazz/New Age/Classical type guitar music cannot go wrong with this CD.