Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra

One of the most successful instrumentalists working today, guitarist Ottmar Liebert (along with his band Luna Negra) has created a niche for himself, creating a sound that borrows from flamenco, new age, jazz, rock and Pan-Latin music.

Born in Cologne, Germany, Liebert began learning to play classical guitar at age 11, and spent much of his teens travelling around Europe and Asia, soaking up different musical traditions along the way. After a pit stop in Boston playing in rock bands, Liebert moved to Santa Fe in the late ’80s. Happily settled in New Mexico, Liebert began playing acoustic, flamenco-accented instrumental music with his new band Luna Negra in Santa Fe’s hotels and bars. His independently produced demo tape began to get a surprising amount of radio airplay and Liebert was soon signed to a record label, Higher Octave, who quickly re-mastered the demo and released it as a full-length debut entitled Nouveau Flamenco. That record quickly became a smashing success, eventually going double platinum in the U.S.

After the equally successful, Grammy-nominated Borrasca, Liebert was picked up by Epic Records. The major label was able to bring the guitarist/composer’s unique flamenco/rock/new age hybrid sound to a wider global audience.

Since 1989, Liebert has released over 30 records, ranging from studio classics to live sessions (Viva!), electronic remix records (Euphoria) and holiday offerings (Winter Rose). Five of his releases have been nominated for Grammys in the best New Age category.  Liebert started his own record label, Spiral Subwave Records International, in 2002.

In the last decade, Liebert has released several acclaimed records, including a compilation called Bare Wood and three-oh-five in 2014. A year later, he recorded Waiting n Swan, a loving tribute to the music of Bob Marley. His most recent is 2021’s Bare Wood 2 which includes completely acoustic versions of some of his favorites as well as four new originals.