Over the past 13 years, guitarist Ottmar Liebert’s wide-ranging sound, known as nouveau flamenco, brought him international acclaim, and he has decided to revisit several of his best-known compositions on The Santa Fe Sessions (Higher Octave). While this is a studio recording, the new versions were inspired by the way the rhythms and arrangements evolved over the course of more than a decade of touring. Liebert added an atmospheric keyboard intro to “Snakecharmer” and expanded the tune into a nearly nine-minute workout, while “Reaching Out to You” features a dramatic symphonic opening and a new rhythmic approach. “Barcelona Nights” receives new percussion accents, and “La Rosa Negra” features washes of lush strings. The album also includes two new tracks, the Brazilian-flavored “Sao Paulo” and the sinuous, dramatic “Song for Pablo.” Listeners new to Liebert’s music will find much in the graceful performances to enjoy, while Liebert’s legions of fans will appreciate the interesting new takes on old favorites.
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