Italian bluesman and maverick pop star Zucchero knows how to put together an album: Work with a legendary producer, write and perform with top rock and blues players, crank out 40 vibrant songs, and then whittle it down to the strongest 15 (Page 21).

Built on a lifetime of writing, playing and troublemaking, “Black Cat” features the artist’s trademark wit, flair and grit. It also upholds a three-decade tradition of collaborating with such luminaries as Eric Clapton, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Sting, Jeff Beck, Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli.