Like so many artists, it would be temptingly easy for guitarist Ottmar Liebert to simply cash in on the popularity that he developed 20 years ago and simply coast into town and play the songs that are expected of him. To his credit, Liebert keeps expanding his horizons and thereby musically expands his loyal fans; coming to the acoustically hip Canyon Club, Liebert brought a new incarnation of his Luna Negra band, with cool jazz toned trumpeter/cornetist J.C. Whitney adding a refreshing dimension to the team of Jon Gagan/b and Chris Steele/perc. And, while Liebert satisfied his following with familiar pieces like the gently exotic “Santa Fe,” he mostly performed material from his latest and adventurous release Dune.
Newer material like “Dancing Alone” and “Horse” had gentle yet flowing percussion setting a bedrock for Liebert’s mix of Flamenco, Andalusian folk and modal jazz that mixed exquisitely well with Whitney’s muted and open horn. Spacious long tones on the cornet served as a perfectly lonely counterpoint to Liebert’s meticulously clean yet penetrating strums and picks, while Gagan’s bass played the role of solo table dancer as well as partner on the café floor. Proudly defiant marches served well mixed with Mediterranean blues, creating a feel as if you were watching the beginnings of a counter-revolution from your seat in the plaza. The opening set took you on audible journeys through the Pyrenees and through small winding Iberian streets, unknown to all except the nylon stringed guide. Fascinating journeys in suburbia this Friday night.
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