After a three month-long Blues overdose (is there such thing?) I decided to take it easy this month, and spent most of the time listening to "Pink Floyd" and Sinatra. Somehow in the process I almost forgot that I had "Curtis Salgado's" "Wiggle Outta This" waiting for review (somehow my editor didn't forget!).

What a stupid mistake!

"Curtis Salgado" is the genius behind John Belushi's character in the "Blues Brothers." He introduced John to the Blues, and he even "borrowed" some of Curtis' personal touches, like his stage movements and the Ray Ban Wayfarers.

In this fourth solo release, his first one for Sanachie, Curtis stays with the basics: strong Blues, Rock, R&B and Funk. The tried and true formula works like a charm.

"Wiggle Outta This" is 10 tracks of top notch Blues that show Curtis' R&B, Classic Rock, Blues and Funk influences. He is great with the harmonica but sometimes sounds a bit restrained (he explains in his online bio that he does it on purpose because he wants the songs themselves to take the center stage, not the instruments).

The title track is nice, but not the best of the bunch. The honor falls on "That's All A Part Of Loving You," with its Motown-like R&B sound. I just love that song. "Sorry Don't Mean Nuthin'" is also remarkable, this time leaning a bit more toward the Rock-Pop side. These three songs are a great example of the awesome musical range that Curtis shows. "Cookie Dough" is textbook Blues, the one track where the harmonica really shines, and it has the slightest hint of Country Western.

And what is a Blues album without the customary "Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up" song? This time the song is "Sweet Jesus Buddha The Doctor." Like "That's All A Part Of Loving You," it has a Motown-like sound but with a little bit of an edge.

Great record.