Albert Castiglia

Although he took his musical apprenticeship with the legendary Junior Wells, an evening with Albert Castiglia isn't just another cruise through the blues. A consummate showman, Castiglia peppers his performances with witty repartee, offbeat and impromptu asides, original songs, and material mined from a diverse classic rock repertoire. The Coral Gables homeboy and fixture on the South Florida scene achieved national notoriety when he and his backing trio were dubbed Best Unsigned Band after competing in the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Burn, his 2002 solo album, further affirms that pedigree while spotlighting his ample skills as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Still it's best to catch Castiglia in concert, where his energetic mix of withering rockers, searing R&B, and the occasional offbeat offering like "Play That Funky Music White Boy" or Sly and the Family Stone's "I Want to Take You Higher" demonstrates his ability to totally get down while firing his audiences up.