Famed for his “world music” albums, guitarist Ottmar Liebert takes us to a country and genre that was the soundtrack for his youth, reggae. As incongruous as that sounds, Ottmar’s flamenco guitar along with Jon Cagan/b and Chris Steele/dr-perc does a yeoman’s job of mixing New Age gentility with the lilt and riffs of Bob Marley.
Along with extra percussion provided by M ark Clark and Robby Rothschild as well as Char Rothschild/s accordion and JZ Whitcomb/s trumpet, the core trio gets a bit sweaty on “ Is This Love” and “Three Little Birds” while the mix of Iberia and Jamaica work amazingly well on “Swan,” “Waiting in Vain” and “”Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)”. As on “I Shot The Sherriff” and “No Woman No Cry” the mood seems more for the background of an Armenian wedding party, with a Muzak-y feel getting into the mood, but that is what happens when the rough edges are sanded off a bit.