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by Paul Cantin Apart from being a master guitarist and musical explorer, Ottmar Liebert has learned the fine art of making friends wherever he goes. Take his experience here in Ottawa. Each time Liebert returns, he attracts ever-larger audiences (he plays the NAC tonight), all without the help of radio or major media exposure. "What happens (in Ottawa) is the same thing in other cities. In Toronto, we've gone from playing a music hall that holds 600 to playing Massey Hall, 2,800," Liebert says. "It's not because of radio. It's word of mouth. Radio here is very limited, plays the same music all day long ... We need those people to come to the concert and tell their friends." So what does a smart musician do to encourage that kind of devotion from an audience? "You just hope you touch somebody. If there was a secret to making a record or doing the right show, it would be boring. You'd just follow the recipe." Steering clear of formulas is what Liebert's work is all about, but his cross-cultural take on flamenco music gets racked in with New Age. "Oh f--- them," he laughs. "It is very nice being called New Age, although it wasn't my choice, I was thrown into it. When you talk about world music or jazz, there is always bickering about what it is, what fits into the format. In New Age, you can do anything you goddamn please. It is one of those fluffy clouds you can put whatever you want into it." |