AMG Review March, 2003
By Jonathan Widran
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The
Santa Fe Sessions A few years ago, Higher Octave Music rang in the new millennium with
the release of Nouveau Flamenco 1990-2000 Special Edition, which celebrated
the ten year anniversary of Ottmar Liebert's legendary, platinum selling
debut.
Over the past twelve years, the guitarist become one of instrumental
music's most popular and compelling live performers across the globe.
As the ensemble dynamics have developed with the revolving members
of his band Luna Negra, Liebert has naturally taken many of his best-loved
tunes to incredible new places.
Santa Fe Sessions revisits some of his
best loved classics, but with a twist--each track reflects the new, expansive
live in concert character of the tunes--including fresh guitar, percussion
and horn parts. Longtime fans will enjoy the nearly nine minute opening
rendition of “Snakecharmer", which moves from an atmospheric
start into a tender ballad and then expands into a percussive celebration.
Most tracks don't get that elaborate, however, which keeps the pace moving
briskly.
Other highlights include the graceful coolness of “Heart
Still/Beating," brassy new attitudes for “Isla Del Sol" and “Dancing
Under the Moon" and a fanciful reworking of “Barcelona Nights," the
trademark song that launched Liebert's career into the stratosphere in
1990. He expands more into Brazilian and Cuban territories with two brand
new tracks as well.
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