Curtis Salgado

Curtis Salgado - Strong Suspicion - 2004 - Shanachie

"Beautifully measured... Fiery!" - Billboard

There is a moment on Curtis Salgado's new Shanachie Entertainment CD Strong Suspicion (March 23, 2004) where it seems the spirit of Al Green has possessed him. When Curtis takes on the obscure Beatles gem "I'll be back" and gives it the full-on Memphis Soul treatment, the results are spine-tingling and eerily reminiscent of Al Green's exquisite soul-i-fication of the Bee Gees and Bob Dylan. Curtis' interpretation of "I'll be back" is one of many highlights on Strong Suspicion, his latest tour-de-force amalgam of blues/soul/rock'n'roll. With the added bonus of great guest performances from slide guitarist Sonny Landreth and singer Bekka Bramlett, it's the strongest effort yet from the man the Los Angeles Times said "is keeping the classic flame of soul music alive. © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

As well as having a successful solo career, Curtis was a vocalist/harp player with Santana, Robert Cray, and Room Full Of Blues. He also worked with SRV, and BB King. The late John Belushi credited Curtis as inspiring The Blues Brothers. If you are not familiar with Curtis Salgado, hopefully "Strong Suspicion" will impress you. It's a really outstanding soul blues album from the great vocalist and harp player from Portland, Oregon. Curtis penned or co-wrote seven of the thirteen tracks. He also covers The Beatles' "I'll Be Back", Bill Withers' "Who Is He", and Leon Russell's "Help Me Through the Day ". The guy has a terrific voice, and with great back up musicians including Bekka Bramlett, and Sonny Landreth, this is an album full of class, and HR by A.O.O.F.C. Although Curtis Salgado may have impressive credentials, he still needs more exposure. You gotta hear this guy. Buy his brilliant "Clean Getaway" album, and try and hear his wonderful "Curtis Salgado & the Stilettos" album

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1 Give Me Patience - Barber
2 I'll Be Back - Lennon/McCartney
3 Born All Over - Copeland/Malone
4 Who Is He (And What Is He to You) - Withers/McKenny
5 Can't Stop Lovin' - Lloyd Jones
6 Strong Suspicion - Barber/Salgado/Span
7 Inside My Heart - McClain/Salgado
8 Money Must Think I'm Dead - Salgado/Phillips/Estrin
9 Love Her Just Because - Salgado/Stewart
10 Help Me Through the Day - L. Russell
11 At Least I Didn't Do That - Salgado/McClain/Johnson
12 The Sum of Something - Salgado
13 Don't Wait Until Tomorrow (1000 MPH) - Salgado/Barber

MUSICIANS

Curtis Salgado - Harmonica, Vocals, Background Vocals
Lloyd Jones, Marlon McClain - Guitar
Sonny Landreth - Slide Guitar
Jacob Wolf - Guitar, Background Vocals
William C. Barber Sr. - Bass, Background Vocals
DK Stewart - Piano
Rusty Hall - Keyboards
Don Worth II - Drums
Gary Harris - Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone
Jim Cheek - Trumpet
Bekka Bramlett - Vocals, Background Vocals
Crystal Taliefero, Linda Hornbuckle - Background Vocals

REVIEWS

"Exhilirating... Pushes all the right buttons." - Blues Revue

"...A fine balladeer... delivers classic sounds with the zealous conviction of a true believer!" - The Philadelphia Inquirer

"Funkified! Comes on hard." - New York Post

Soul/blues/rock & roller Salgado scores again on his sixth effort and third for the Shanachie imprint. It's his longest and most consistent label affiliation in a fitful career that finally seems to be picking up steam in 2004. Like fellow veteran Delbert McClinton, the singer/harpist is not bound by a specific genre, preferring to live between the cracks. But whether he's laying a Memphis groove on his cover of the Beatles' "I'll Be Back," grinding through Bill Withers' "Who Is He (And What Is He to You)," or testifying on Leon Russell by way of Freddie King's "Help Me Through the Day," Salgado smothers this music in gobs of gospel and gutsy R&B. The drum machine that leads off "At Least I Didn't Do That" is a minor distraction on this generally rootsy album, but the song is so powerful, with its quicksilver guitar and urging vocals telling the story of a redeemed sinner, that it withstands the unnecessary percussive intrusion. Salgado goes funky on the slightly tongue-in-cheek "Money Must Think I'm Dead" ("I'm so broke now did I mention/I can't afford to pay attention"), chugging through the song like a sputtering locomotive. He also blows searing harp on the track, something he pulls out far too seldom on this album. A blistering and sexy duet with Bekka Bramlett (who sounds just like her mother, Bonnie) on "Can't Stop Lovin'" is one of the album's many high points. Slide guitarist Sonny Landreth contributes to three tunes but really burns on the title track, a greasy rocking swamp stomp that works perfectly with his gritty Southern tone. His originals are as incisive as the covers, making this another classy and potent serving of Salgado's soul gumbo. © Hal Horowitz, Allmusic.com

There is a moment on Curtis Salgado's new Shanachie Entertainment CD, Strong Suspicion (March 23, 2004) where it seems the spirit of Al Green has possessed him. When Curtis takes on the obscure Beatles gem "I'll Be Back" and gives it the full-on Memphis Soul treatment, the results are spine-tingling and eerily reminiscent of Al Green's exquisite soul-i-fication of the Bee Gees and Bob Dylan. Curtis' interpretation of "I'll Be Back" is only one of many highlights on Strong Suspicion; his latest tour-de-force amalgam of blues/soul/rock 'n' roll. With the added bonus of great quest performances from slide guitarist Sonny Landreth and singer Bekka Bramlett, it's the strongest effort yet from the man the Los Angeles Times said "is keeping the classic flame of soul music alive," As always, Curtis Salgado's take on soul music is wide-ranging. His heartfelt approach to the music has won him starring roles as lead singer in bands led by such stars as Robert Cray and Santana. The late John Belushi was so inspired by Curtis that he developed his Blues Brother character after him. Curtis' take on soul is simple. "If a song is sincere and you believe it, that's soul," he says. "To me Pavarotti is as much a soul singer as Otis Redding; Merle Haggard and Hank Williams are soul singers as much as Sam Cooke. Soul is about heart and about belief." "'I'll Be Back" has been one of my favorites since growing up with The Beatles as a kid. That particular tune was not in the film A Hard Day's Night but is on the soundtrack album. After listening to O.V. Wright and Al Green and how they do a Dylan tune, I thought, why not put a Memphis spin on this? What would Al Green or O.V. Wright do with this?" While Strong Suspicion features other examples of Curtis' ability to put an original spin on someone else's song (most notably the Bill Withers song "Who Is He (And What Is He To You?)", the new album showcases Curtis' growth as a songwriter. A special highlight is the Prince-like ballad "Inside My Heart" while another is the title track. "I wanted to make a greasy Black Crowes/Stones type of thing because I love rock 'n' roll! It was Willie Barber who had the concept of that song and he said to me, see what you can do with it." "Money Must Think I'm Dead" has a melody that I've had in my head a long time. I wanted an Albert King meets a Jonny 'Guitar' Watson or War type of vibe. Lyrically it's about being flat busted and having your head just above water to make ends meet. It's about barely having enough to survive and needing more because you are striving to get what it takes to keep your romance alive." Curtis Salgado's music is so compelling because it comes from the heart. "I've learned a lot of lessons about songwriting. You can't sit around and wait for the muse to hit you. You've got to write. If you read a lot, like I do, an idea hits you. It's getting better each time I approach it," Not only does Curtis step forward as a singer to reckon with on Strong Suspicion, but he also asserts himself as one of the best harmonica players on the scene. Check out his playing on such stand out songs as "Money Must Think I'm Dead," "Who Is He?" and "Don't Wait Until Tomorrow" among other songs. Produced by Curtis' long-time producer Marlon McClain (who had success recently with solo recordings by The Gap Band's Charlie Wilson) the new album showcases Curtis' acutely expressive vocals which confirm his status as one of America's outstanding singers in the realm of blues, rock or soul. Louisiana icon Sonny Landreth's amazing slide-guitar work graces three songs: "Give Me Patience", "Don't Wait Until Tomorrow" and the title track, while Bekka Bramlett's powerhouse duet with Curtis on "Can't Stop Lovin'" is a treat; she's usually lending her voice and songwriting skills to the likes of Faith hill, Delbert McClinton and Mick Fleetwood among other superstars. "Sonny Landreth is incredible," says Curtis Salgado. "I saw him when I played Mountain Stage and was just stunned. I said I gotta have this sound on my record. He could hear on his own exactly what we were after. Shane, my manager, brought up Bekka. I had seen Delaney and Bonnie (Bramlett, Bekka's parents) as a kid. I'd never seen anything like it: a true rock & soul revue. In Bekka possesses that same kind of magic. In the studio she kept throwing out ideas and every time she did she was right on pitch, even off the top of her head." While Curtis has been a Northwest-music legend from his Portland base ever since his six year stint in Robert Cray's band (he's on Cray's debut album), it's only been in the past few years that national audiences have been seeing what all the fuss is about as Curtis and his band deliver one of the most powerful live shows you'll see anywhere - a rare commodity these days. Curtis' singing ability was recognized at an early age, when he came home from kindergarten one day with a note from his teacher pinned to his shirt saying that he could sing. He started his own band in the burgeoning Northwest blues scene in the early Seventies then was a key part of Cray's formative years, leaving to front the respected Roomful Of Blues from 1984-1986. Along the way, he inspired John Belushi to create the Blues Brothers when Belushi was in Eugene, Oregon to film Animal House and caught Curtis' act. Belushi dedicated the first Blues Brothers album to Curtis. There was even a stint as lead vocalist with Santana in 1995. Curtis kicked off his own recording career with Curtis Salgado & The Stilettos in 1991, following it up with More Than You Can Chew in 1995. While both albums generated substantial rock and blues airplay, unfortunately both labels went out of business before he could break through nationally. The more acoustic Hit It And Quit It scored him a spot with Steve Miller on Late Night With Conan O'Brien. His three albums for Shanachie (Wigqle Out Of This, Soul Activated and now Strong Suspicion), combined with consistent national touring, mark the first time that Curtis has had the benefit of consistent career development with the same record company and booking agent. He's appeared on NPR's Mountain Stage, been the highlight of major festivals across the country, and has been winning long-overdue critical, raves indicating that he really is one of the great performers on the scene today. Curtis' last CD Soul Activated was received with critical acclaim and even garnered a WC Handy Blues Award nomination in the category of "Soul Blues Album of the Year." Curtis Salgado is finally poised for the breakthrough that seemed to be his destiny early on. For the first time, all the pieces are in place for an artist who has paid his dues, made his mistakes, and had his share of bad breaks but has persevered. "Music is an offering and if you accept that offering, there's a connection there, and that is what soul is all about," says Curtis Salgado. "This album is the most satisfying record I've ever made. We rehearsed and just went in and played our asses off. We had fun. It's an offering until the next one comes along!" © http://thebluesdaily.com/2009/02/17/curtis-salgado-strong-suspicion/

BIO

Harmonica player, songwriter and singer Curtis Salgado artfully skirts the lines between blues and soul at his live shows and on his recordings. Salgado grew up in Portland, Oregon, listening to black blues and soul artists who rose to prominence in the 1950's and 60's, vocalists like Johnnie Taylor, Otis Redding and O.V. Wright. You can hear the influence of these artists in his singing. In interviews, he credits his parents and siblings for having hip musical tastes; everything from classic jazz from New Orleans to Fletcher Henderson big bands to Kid Ory and Wingy Manone were played on the family stereo, and one day his sister brought home a Little Walter recording. After his mother got him a harmonica and a basic instruction book, he was off and running. He worked as a sideman with guitarist Robert Cray and with the Rhode Island-based horn band, Roomful of Blues, for a number of years before embarking on his own career. Over the years, with Roomful of Blues and with Cray, he's sat in with a number of his blues heroes, including Muddy Waters, Albert Collins, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan, the latter three more his contemporaries than the older masters. Salgado began his recording career under his own name with "Curtis Salgado & The Stilettos" in 1991 and "More Than You Can Chew" in 1995. He released "Hit It and Quit It" in the late 1990's. Since the late 1990's, Salgado has recorded three albums for the New Jersey-based Shanachie Records label, "Wiggle Out of This," "Soul Activated," and "Strong Suspicion." Any of his Shanachie Records releases are good representative samples of what his energetic live shows are all about. In early 2006, Salgado was diagnosed with liver cancer, but subsequently got a transplant in September of that year. By early 2008, he was given a clean bill of health and was back on the road. © Richard J. Skelly, All Music Guide



MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST

While Curtis has been a Northwest-music legend from his Portland base ever since his six year stint in Robert Cray's band (he's on Cray's debut album), it's only been in the past few years that national audiences have been seeing what all the fuss is about as Curtis and his band deliver one of the most powerful live shows you'll see anywhere - a rare commodity these days. Curtis' singing ability was recognized at an early age, when he came home from kindergarten one day with a note from his teacher pinned to his shirt saying that he could sing. He started his own band in the burgeoning Northwest blues scene in the early seventies then was key part of Cray's formative years, leaving to front the respected Roomful Of Blues from 1984-1986. Along the way, he inspired John Belushi to create the Blues Brothers when Belushi was in Eugene, Oregon to film Animal House and caught Curtis' act. Belushi dedicated the first Blues Brothers album to Curtis. There was even a stint! as lead vocalist with Santana in 1995. Curtis kicked off his own recording career with Curtis Salgado and the Stilettos in 1991, following it up with More than you can chew in 1995. While both albums generated substantial rock and blues airplay, unfortunately both labels went out of business before he could break through nationally. The more acoustic Hit it and quit it scored him a spot with Steve Miller on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. His three albums for Shanachie (Wiggle outta this, Soul Activated, and now Strong Suspicion), combined with consistent national touring, mark the first time that Curtis has had the benefit of consistent career development with the same record company and booking agent. He's appeared on NPR's Mountain Stage, been the highlight of major festivals across the country and has been winning long-overdue critical raves indicating that he really is one of the great performers on the scene today. Curtis' last CD, Soul Activated, was received with critical acclaim and even garnered a WC Handy Blues Award nomination in the category of "Soul Blues Album of the Year." © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates