This week we feature jazz guitarist Phil Upchurch.

This feature on Phil Upchurch is long overdue. Phil is remarkable talent on jazz guitar and his current jazz CD is a gem. As you will learn, he has quite an illustrious history as an back-up musician and session player, and of course, as an artist and performer in his own right. His website has a detailed scrapbook, following his over 40 years in the music business, not only as a jazz guitar player, but also playing and recording R&B, Blues and Pop music for major artists.

Phil has compiled a number of his CDs going back to the 60's for sale off of his website. This really has a personal touch as he puts these packages together and mails them off himself. You can check his website discography page for sound clips and for also for his lesson book from Mel Bay.

Phil Upchurch online bio:
WHAT DO THEY...Whitney Houston, Julio Iglesias, George Benson, President Bill Clinton, Bill Cosby, Michael Jackson, Muhammad Ali, Sheena Easton, Joe Fraizer, Quincy Jones, Wesley Snipes, Danny Glover, Dee Clark, Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Smith, Dave Sanborn, Joe Williams, Gary Burton, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Ben Sidran, Carmen McRae, Ray Brown, Stan Getz, Grover Washington Jr., Ramsey Lewis, The Staple Singers, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed, B.B. King, Albert King, The Spaniels. Neil Sedaka, Smokey Robinson, Richard Pryor, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Kahn, Curtis Mayfield, Jerry Butler, Marvin Gaye, Natalie Cole, The Crusaders, John Lee Hooker, Leon Russell, Ray Charles, Al Hirt, Gene Ammons, Buddy Montgomery, Philly Joe Jones, Wynton Kelly, Jimmy Cobb, Donny Hathaway, Ray Charles, Branford Marsalis, and Cat Stevens... HAVE IN COMMON ?

The answer is ..Phil Upchurch .....for he has performed with, recorded with, or in the case of President Clinton, the President elect performed Phil's hit of 1961-"You Can't Sit Down" on national television at his inauguration. The fact is that for the past 43 years as of this writing, Phil has remained on the cutting edge of recorded music and as a performer.

Beginning in 1955 with Vee Jay records and the likes of Dee Clark, Jimmy Reed, the Dells, the Spaniels, the Moonglows, he still to this day remains a first call studio musician. He has played on hundreds of records, scores of film tracks, Myriads of T.V. and radio jingles and has recorded with artist's of practically every genre of American music. The mere mention of his name alway triggers associations with the Superstars. Probably better known for his association (1975-1981) with George Benson than any other, George has recorded 3 of Phil's compositions the most notable being "6 to 4" from the album -"Breezin". Still actively supporting the stars and traveling the stages of the world at the age of 57, he shows no sign of slowing down, nor does he have any desire to. He continues to also work on his own solo career and has released 23 solo albums of his own to date.

Read on from Phil's website:
http://philupchurch.com/

Doc Dosco is a jazz guitarist, composer and audio consultant living in Los Angeles, CA. His website is located at http://www.docdosco.com, where you can find more information on the 'What's Hot in Jazz Guitar' columns, audio clips of Doc's playing, and many additional features. Doc plays Heritage guitars and endorses the new Pignose Valve Tube Amps -- great for jazz (and anything else!)