Ottmar Liebert explores the sounds of reggae

Ottmar Liebert realized something for his latest album, “Waiting n Swan.”

“If you put a reggae drumbeat over a tango rhythm, it works,” said Liebert. The new album includes songs of Bob Marley as well as two older songs of Liebert’s that he re-recorded with a reggae influence.

The instrumentalist guitarist, a resident of Santa Fe, N.M., but originally from Germany, will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. Fourth St., Loveland. He is known for his Spanish and flamenco influence but Liebert said he would not describe himself as a traditional flamenco player.

Liebert explained that reggae and the Spanish tangos both have origins in Africa.

“One of those became reggae in the Caribbean and the other went to Spain and was tangos,” he said.

Liebert said he was strongly influenced the music of Bob Marley when he was younger.

“For me, Bob Marley had it all, great melodies, great rhythm and lyrics that were really meaningful,” Liebert said. He described the mid-1970s as an exciting time where rock and jazz were not seen separate genres.

“If I look back, it was a really amazing time,” he said.

Marley, he said, was one of the most influential musicians. When putting the album together, Liebert said he would ask friends what songs they would recommend.

“I wasn’t surprised, but everyone has a favorite Bob Marley song,” he said. Marley style also lent to what he was doing in combining the influence of reggae and tangos.

“I thought it was a really good way to use melodies that people were familiar with and show how tangos and reggae are related,” he said. The Marley songs featured were quickly chosen.

“I think I pretty soon has an idea what I wanted to do,” he said, “They just all came together really well,” he said.

The title of the new album, “Waiting n Swan” has roots in the Creole languages of the Caribbean.

“I have friends from the Caribbean and I had been learning a few phrases and things,” he said. Liebert hopes someday to be able to speak it but right now is glad when he understands it.

“I was like, I’ve got to use this somewhere because I liked how it flowed”

Saying “Waiting n Swan” quickly will reveal the phrase “waiting and so on,” Liebert said. The title refers the last song on the album, “Waiting in Vain,” and so on.

“The beauty of instrumental music is that it works very differently from songs,” Liebert said of his work. With words, Liebert said, you are told what the emotion is. Instrumentals, he said, leave more room for the listener. He compared the style to books.

You picture these words filter through your experiences in the world, the same thing happens with instrumental music,” he said.

For the show on Thursday, Liebert said he will perform a mix of his old and new works. Over the last 26 years he has released 30 albums.

“I am really looking forward to playing the venue and the band sounds better than ever,” he said.

Michelle Vendegna: 970-699-5407, vendegnam@reporterherald.com