def _connect(host=None, port=None, db=None, password=None):
    '''
    Returns an instance of the redis client
    '''
    if not host:
        host = __salt__['config.option']('redis.host')
    if not port:
        port = __salt__['config.option']('redis.port')
    if not db:
        db = __salt__['config.option']('redis.db')
    if not password:
        password = __salt__['config.option']('redis.password')

    return redis.StrictRedis(host, port, db, password, decode_responses=True)