Brazilian vocalist Badi Assad releases an attractive collection of originals that mix pop, jazz and local sounds in an intriguing manner. She mixes and matches her songs in both Portuguese and English, sometimes in the same tune. The material can be delightful sophisticated pop as on “Ultraleve” or wondrous folk flavors that meld together on “Noit de Sao Joao.” Her voice is rich and passionate and comes with that alluring nasal softness that draws you into the cadence of the lyrics. Her delivery works alarmingly well on the quirky yet enticing “Quarto Da Rainha” that sounds like a mix of New Orleans and Rio, while “Catch,” created with the marrow of Stevie Wonder funk, keeps a South American lilt and bounce. Her phrasing is filled with warm and joyful blood, like an enthused tour guide who is taking you to side streets off the beaten path. Wonderful!
