he debut solo CD from Long Island based guitarist Steve Booke is a thoroughly captivating and quite meditative affair that often hits the musical target with an appealing blend of moody and progressive New Age, folk-jazz and world beat instrumentals. A young musician with clear, natural abilities on acoustic guitar, Booke is joined by percussionist David Penna on the 14 track Rare Earth. The reflective 72-minute set will be embraced by New Age fans, yet there's no denying the jazzier, hypnotic influences ECM guitarists like Ralph Towner and Steve Tibbetts. Another influence at work on Rare Earth is guitarist Jimmy Page, specifically his acoustic work on Led Zeppelin III. A definite high point is the three part closer "Spiral Universe", which combines some intriguing and spontaneous musical interplay between Booke and Penna. On Rare Earth, Booke lives up to his belief that, "Music is the link between the heart and soul, it speaks in its own words that which otherwise cannot be spoken." A Berklee College of Music graduate whose influences include Steve Morse and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Booke proves that on Rare Earth he's a talent worth keeping an eye on.
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