PHIL UPCHURCH — Upchurch/Tennyson (review)

PHIL UPCHURCH — Upchurch/Tennyson album cover Album · 1975 · RnB Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
Rokukai
Upchurch continues his streak of tasteful and eclectic r&bish jazz on this collaboration with Chicago pianist and vocalist Tennyson Stephens. Produced by Creed Taylor, engineered by Rudy Van Gelder, and released on Kudu in 1975, this set features some of Taylor's usual cast in Bob James, Eric Gale, a young David Sanborn, Hubert Laws, Steve Gadd...

Upchurch's masterful guitar steals the spotlight on this collection, yet the music give the others room to display their chops. It's funky and happy in spots, slow and tender in others. Recommended songs are the gorgeous update on "Ave Maria" and the simmering funk on the cover of the Rufus and Chaka Khan classic "Tell me Something Good".

Not as urban or gritty as Upchurch's 2 previous albums, this album was meant to appeal to pop audiences much the same as Grover Washington Jr's hit album "Mr. Magic". The production is somewhat slick and pop-oriented, and the songs sound like they could be featured on a Bosom Buddies episode or a Neil Simon film. Still, the project works well and this is fun to listen to. I'd put this at four stars under normal circumstances, but I waited a long time to find this one and it was worth the wait. That bumps it up half a star in my collection. It's a good album that deserves to live on, and the Upchurch name should be held in the same esteem as other jazz guitar giants of the 1970's.
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