Folk/pop/world

Even at his subtlest, Brazilian actor/singer Seu Jorge has an unlimited capacity for the wildly theatrical. He possesses those frantic dramatic flourishes and slowly unfurling trills that as a thespian make his mirthless mug ("Knockout Ned" in City of God) as loathsome as his singing voice is a tender trap. Like a callused hand cupping a lover's face, Jorge humbly enveloped David Bowie's flashiest songs in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, ch-changing the tacky nattering to Portuguese whispers. For all the dearness, Jorge sings with guts, a growling belly-croon reminiscent of Olu Dara and a young Lou Rawls. He uses a dozen other voices — equally raw, tonic and soothing — on his sophomore CD, Cru. Though he likes it gruff on an ugly-tech cover of Serge Gainsbourg's "Chatterton," Jorge is best when embracing and soft: brushed strokes of acoustic guitar and gently smoked vocals on "Fiore de la Citta" and "Bola de Meia," the conversational tale of slum life that is "Eu Sou Favela." As chatty and unique as Jorge is Ramona Cordova, a mysteriously pansexual Philadelphian whose fairy-tale lyrics and Waits-ian musicianship make The boy who floated freely a debut CD worth any confusion.

Tue., Sept. 13, 8 p.m., $12, all ages, with Ramona Cordova, First Unitarian Church Sanctuary, 22nd and Chestnut sts., 866-468-7619, www.r5productions.com.