Aldo Brizzi is a composer and conductor of unusually high pedigree, an Italian who seems to have no trouble maneuvering within all manner of genres. A master of contemporary classical music, Brizzi crosses the Atlantic with his latest work, inviting an A-list of Brazilian collaborators to join him on this beautifully constructed study of the country's musical culture. It's a daring move: Brizzi is an outsider, but sometimes a loving external perspective can shed tender light on its subject. Indeed, Brizzi's ear and expertise informed Brizzi Do Brasil to such heights that contributor Gilberto Gil proclaimed, "This is an Italian who speaks Portuguese because he is very into Brazil."

Gil's voice launches the album on opener "Meninas de Programa", a composition of stuttered samba rhythms accentuated by novel bass hits and bold guitar strokes. It heralds Brizzi's skill as a composer: complex elements unite, gelling into a terrific, groovy whole and capturing the magic and essence of Brazilian music. "Exilio", which features co-writer Zeca Baleiro on the mic, kicks off with heavy tribal rhythms, then settles on a convention between a smooth crooner's shuffle and boisterous call-and-response breakdowns; it wouldn't be at all out of place at a Carnival soiree.

On "Toi", while Carlinhos Brown delivers the lyrics, Brizzi tweaks Brazilian traditions: quirky cadences and percussive vocals move the artform left of center without sacrificing its inviting, buoyant flavor. The minimal but upbeat "O Amor" bends the rules in a similar manner, offering a female vocal tradeoff over spare bass and a heavy bossa clip.

Elsewhere, Brizzi strikes with lovely, moody nu-standards; "ão" is one of the more notable of the bunch. This one features Caetano Veloso singing the words of an Augusto de Campos poem over jazz guitar and piano, its silky, meandering melody like velvet on the skin.

There are 12 songs in all, each one infected with a Brizzi nuance that turns the Brazilian model on its ear, always remaining faithful to the origins. Brazilian music aficionados will find much to sink their teeth into, but Brizzi Do Brasil offers enough inspiration for even the average (albeit attentive) listener to appreciate.