TELL THE TRUTH

Phil Upchurch is the kind of guitarist who makes a strong point by what he chooses not to play. There are speedier chopsmeisters, players who undertake more daring intervallic leaps, those who navigate trickier lines, but it would be hard to imagine a more soulful guitarist than Upchurch. From his laidback phrasing on Nat Adderley's bluesy boogaloo Jive Samba to his buttery-smooth vocal inflections on Steely Dan's Jack of Speed and on the bluesy title track, Upchurch's understated approach on Tell the Truth! Is more about pure feeling than technique.