Ottmar Liebert releases new CD, special appearance at the Tower Theatre July 26.
Ottmar Liebert’s new album, Dune, provides a definite change in the typical sound of the flamenco artist. It provides a sort of random beauty, utilizing airy, rhythmic and sometimes funky tones to provide an exceptional and mysterious soundtrack.
Liebert has five Grammy nominations in addition to multiple Gold and Platinum records, selling millions of albums worldwide. A skilled contemporary flamenco guitarist, Liebert’s music is always somewhat of a surprise. This set includes many different textures, with contrasting traditional and electrical instruments, accordion, bass lines, trumpets and a drum machine plus lots of varied percussion.
Dune features Liebert on acoustic and electric guitar, Jon Gagan on acoustic upright bass, electric bass guitar and keyboard, Char Rothschild on accordion and Robby Rothschild on percussion. Chris Steele also makes an appearance on the Track 14, Moon Fragrance.
Liebert says, “I’m following the idea of contrasting traditional and electric instruments like we did on the Opium release. There are also beautiful treatments and sound design by Andrew Gaskins on three tracks. For the opening track, Falling In, for example, I sent Andrew single notes and chords I played on my guitar, which he then stretched and manipulated.”
The music composed by Liebert transports the listener across the world from song to song, ranging from an Arabic scale in track three, Horse, switches between rumba and a 6/8 beat on Shadow, records a beautiful piece in 5/4, track #11 Five Clouds, Lenticular, and trades melodies with the accordion on track 9, Smoke (while Jon plays three basses and a clavinet) – the influences on this project cover the globe.
Ottmar commented, “I wanted to play guitar melodies that sounded ‘sung’. For some reason I kept thinking about old jazz and pop crooners. So I sang almost every melody first and then figured out how to play it on guitar.”
That’s the thing about Ottmar – as you listen, the environment seems to change and the music projects you into a different space. The dreamscape starts and creates room for your own ‘Dune’ encounter.
VENUE: Tower Theatre
DATE: Thursday, July 26
ADDRESS: 835 Northwest Wall Street
TIME OF SHOW: 7:30pm
TICKET PRICE: $29.00 – $39.00
www.ottmarliebert.com/biography/awards.php
www.towertheatre.com