Brazilian Samba, Detroit Funk From Polish Basia

Need proof that the world is a small place? Singer/songwriter Basia (pronounced BA-sha) was raised in Poland and lives in London, and her music is steeped in both sensual, Brazilian-shaded samba and horn-spiked Detroit funk. Is that international enough for you?

Playing Thursday to a packed house at the Roxy, the slim, simply dressed vocalist focused largely on tunes from her appealing debut album, “Time and Tide,� the title cut of which is the most soulful of the lot. Basia sings in a lightly accented manner that swings from gently inviting to brash, full-throated and earthy.

With most new artists you can listen to their voices and play spot-the-influence, but aside from her lightly jazzy Astrud Gilberto inflections--not as pronounced at the Roxy as on the album--Basia comes across as an original.

Still, the most touching section of her set was when she sang several songs from Aretha Franklin’s “Greatest Hits� album--�The first album I ever bought,� she told the audience. Listening to her sail her way through “Until You Come Back to Me,� “Baby I Love You� and “Respect,� you could picture this skinny little kid in Poland, sitting next to the record player and listening to that album over and over until she got it note-by-note perfect. Basia’s music seems to be about breaking down boundaries, and that’s something she accomplished Thursday night.