Aldo Brizzi: Brizzi do Brasil

Brizzi do Brasil (Amiata), not unlike the Moacir Santos compilation, features guests performing the music of one man-in this case the Italian composer Aldo Brizzi, who makes his home in Brazil’s Bahia region. But these tracks, all produced and arranged by Brizzi himself, are far more eccentric and modern than Santos’. Originally conceived as a musical, this project morphed into an experimental sort of world-pop album, with cameos by Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Carlinhos Brown and many others. Some tracks wouldn’t be out of place in a hip club, others in a Chinese opera. Voices range from Teresa Salgueiro’s Kate Bush-like warble, to Virginia Rodrigues’ quasi-Gregorian vibe, to Arnaldo Antunes’ hip-hop attack. Each piece yields its own sonic universe. The ideas themselves are fascinating; together they make for an uneven listening experience. But “Este Era un Gato,” a ballad sung in English by Ala dos Namorados, sends one off in a favorable mood.

Originally Published December 1, 2004