That is exactly right. Phrasing is what separates the men from the boys musically speaking. All the greats have genius phrasing — Albert King, Albert Collins, Freddie King. Same way with the rock guys — Jimmy Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Slash. All had something to say and could say it just right. Hard to wrap words around it because it’s such a taste thing, but the greats have got it. Clapton is among the finest of the fine in his sense of phrasing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3RYvO2X0Oo
Roger Waters nailed the concept verbally in a Documentary when he was explaining how he would tell a musician he was producing in the studio to "Play half a bar and let it linger."
Never heard a better explanation. "Let it linger"
Oh thank God...somebody mentioned Slash.
/genuflect