Liebert describes his musical style as "Nouveau Flamenco." In a 2004 interview, Liebert explained that once he was signed to a record label, he was required to come up with a name for what he was doing. Although there are flamenco elements to his music, it's nothing like traditional flamenco, being based on melody and using much simpler forms. As this music couldn't be considered jazz, rock, or classical, he felt that flamenco was the closest word to use that people could identify with. Liebert drew some criticism with his adoption of the term, especially since according to critics, none of his works to date followed traditional flamenco
palo forms. It was also perceived by some as a marketing ploy and an attempt to associate his music with the then burgeoning school of "
Flamenco Nuevo", where acknowledged flamenco artists had started to rejuvenate and reinvent flamenco through the introduction of influences from Latin America (e.g. the Rumba rhythm) and even jazz music.
Paco de Lucia was one such critic. Despite Liebert's citing Paco as an influence, Paco described Liebert's music as "una degeneración, una caricatura del flamenco" (literally, "a degeneration, a caricature"). However, Paco later seemed to appreciate Liebert's music, with Paco's record company even mentioning him in promotional materials. ==Personal life==