diff --git a/kombu/transport/pyredis.py b/kombu/transport/pyredis.py
index 7e0bd42c..d0328535 100644
--- a/kombu/transport/pyredis.py
+++ b/kombu/transport/pyredis.py
@@ -204,20 +204,15 @@ class Channel(virtual.Channel):
         if not queues:
             return
         keys = list(queues) + [timeout or 0]
-        name, cmd = self._encode_command("BRPOP", *keys)
-        self.client.connection.send(cmd, self)
+        self.client.connection.send_command("BRPOP", *keys)
         self._in_poll = True
 
-    def _encode_command(self, *args):
-        encode = self.client.encode
-        cmds = "".join('$%s\r\n%s\r\n' % (len(enc_value), enc_value)
-                for enc_value in imap(encode, args))
-        return args[0], '*%s\r\n%s' % (len(args), cmds)
-
     def _brpop_read(self, **options):
         try:
             try:
-                dest__item = self.client.parse_response("BRPOP", **options)
+                dest__item = self.client.parse_response(self.client.connection,
+                                                        "BRPOP",
+                                                        **options)
             except self.connection.connection_errors:
                 raise Empty()
             if dest__item:
@@ -313,8 +308,27 @@ class Channel(virtual.Channel):
                            password=conninfo.password)
 
     def _get_client(self):
-        from redis import Redis
-        return Redis
+        from redis import Redis, ConnectionError
+
+        # KombuRedis maintains a connection attribute on it's instance and
+        # uses that when executing commands
+        class KombuRedis(Redis):
+            def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+                super(KombuRedis, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+                self.connection = self.connection_pool.get_connection('_')
+
+            def execute_command(self, *args, **options):
+                conn = self.connection
+                command_name = args[0]
+                try:
+                    conn.send_command(*args)
+                    return self.parse_response(conn, command_name, **options)
+                except ConnectionError:
+                    conn.disconnect()
+                    conn.send_command(*args)
+                    return self.parse_response(conn, command_name, **options)
+
+        return KombuRedis
 
     def _get_response_error(self):
         from redis import exceptions
@@ -336,7 +350,8 @@ class Channel(virtual.Channel):
 
     @cached_property
     def subclient(self):
-        return self._create_client()
+        client = self._create_client()
+        return client.pubsub()
 
     @subclient.deleter  # noqa
     def subclient(self, client):