Jim Earp Review of "Rosewood" @ iTunes By: Richard Montenegro usician Jim Earp operates much like the fictional, persona-swapping Clark Kent: living a life of relative obscurity from 9 to 5, Earp trades his briefcase for a guitar case come nightfall. There are no blue tights and red cape in this 41-year-old San Diego resident's act, just beautiful and inspirational music played with style, feeling and technical mastery. Nominated for two San Diego Music Awards and winner of the Southern California city's coveted Guitar Wars contest, Earp's 1996 instrumental album, "Rosewood," continues to receive rave reviews all over the world. "By faith, I'm a born-again Christian. But the kind of music I do cuts across a lot of demographics," Earp said from his home Friday. "In a church setting, I may be tempted to sing in a more gospel tone with more testimonials, whereas if I'm in a coffee shop I'd let the music speak for itself." Even in a church setting, Earp said, only one-third of the material he performs is Christian-geared since much of it is instrumental. He says the style of music he tends to write and perform can best be described as contemporary acoustic guitar. What is that? "It's easiest to describe my music by telling you what's not in there. There's very little blues or Nashvillle-based, Chet Atkins-type guitar in there," Earp said, adding he draws his inspiration from "New Age"-like players such as Alex Degrassi and Leo Kottke. "I'm taken by a lot of Celtic and pseudo-classical players," he said. Instrumental contemporary acoustic may be Earp's bread and butter but it's not the only type of music he performs. He is not only an accomplished singer-songwriter, Earp also playes lead electric guitar in the San Diego group Modern Peasants. Earp began playing guitar in 1973 and for the last 17 years has played the same handmade guitar. Many years ago, Earp said, he stumbled upon the guitar shop of world-renowned luthier Bozo Podunavac. The master guitar maker had built instruments for a great many of Earp's heroes, including Kottke. Earp began studying guitar design and manufacturing in Podunavac's luthiery school and built his own instrument in the Podunavac style in 1981. A civil servant for the U.S. Department of Defense, Earp is married towife Cathy. Jim and Cathy have 14-year-old twin girls, Terra and Rianne. © Richard Montenegro / Imperial Valley Press Lunes The Twins Cantus In F Minor Armchair Traveler Angel's Apple Pie Highland Rain