The Beautiful Lowdown is a major step forward for Salgado. “I wanted to write memorable songs with strong melodies that stick to you, and that’s what’s here.” He arrived at the studio with 17 originals and whittled the list down to 11, adding Johnny “Guitar” Watson’s Hook Me Up to close the set. Each track—from the Van Morrison-esque Nothing In Particular to the funk grooves of My Girlfriend to the driving Hard To Feel The Same About Love to the reggae-tinged Simple Enough—is delivered with the vocal power and passion of a musical master. Living Blues says, “Salgado navigates dynamic soul, swaying balladry, and funky grooves with equal confidence. He is a formidable performer.”