Alex Britti has the self-assurance and quiet dignity of the well-traveled bluesman he so clearly is. His most characteristic songs are unhurried, unbellowed, and utterly beguiling. They often start with softly murmured, highly rhythmic verses and reach a broader, more impassioned peak in the choruses, whether Britti is playing John Barry-style baroque rock, delicately crooning a romantic lullaby, or rapping over twangy bluegrass licks. He's no slouch as a guitarist, either, playing dextrous blues runs and throwing classy jazz shapes as his muse demands.