Rodrigo Vellozo has an impressive musical range. He can belt out a piano ballad with complete sincerity, and he can meld punkish hip-hop to a samba with apparent ease. It would be far too facile to call him the Brazilian Joe Jackson, but his ease with and mastery of a wide variety styles is impressive.

Rodrigo Vellozo Cada Lugar Na Sua Coisa (WM Brazil)

Unlike Jackson, Vellozo doesn't stick to one or two styles per album--or even per song. This album is all over the place, with his voice serving the sole unifying element. His voice is not particularly distinctive, but perhaps that's because he's trying so many things.

By and large, this album sticks more to the middle than the edges. The blistering start gives way to a feel that sounds more traditionally Brazilian to my American ears. But even within that mellower terrain Vellozo shows an impressive ability to shift gears smoothly.

I just received a pile of new music from Brazil, and this album was the most interesting of the bunch. Chill enough for a party, but intriguing enough to engage the mind. Even if you don't know Portuguese.

Jon Worley