by Paula EdelsteinThe world-renowned guitarist Phil Upchurch plays 13 great songs on Tell the Truth. This CD is a gem. Playing blues, soul, R&B, and jazz, Upchurch shows his remarkable versatility on such great songs as Jive Samba, La Costa, the title track, and St. Louis Blues. He performs a flamenco version of La Costa with beauty and style, and flaunts his stride guitar technique on a solo rendition of St. Louis Blues. His inimitably smooth and soulful phrasing shines on Manhattan, and he doubles on harmonica on his original composition She's Alright. However, the highlights of this great program are Tell the Truth, a song Upchurch wrote with Ray Charles in mind, and his great arrangement of Dave Brubeck's Take Five, which he plays much in the same way as he did on George Benson's smash hit Breezin'. Joined by David Arnay on piano, Kevin Axt on bass, Vince Wilburn, Jr. on drums, and Mike Smith on percussion, this great CD comes 40 years after Upchurch's first recording as a leader, and it's priceless.