Rare is the singer these days who not only writes his own material, but plays just about everything in support of himself in the process. Canadian Len Mizzoni mixes some covers with tasty originals with a wide range of a deliveries that go the spectrum of Kurt Elling to Iggy Pop with even pit stops on Broadway and Peter Gabriel.
With echoey synths and guitars and a disco-ish percussion support, Mizzoni gets rich, deep and dark on a harrowing “Autumn Leaves” and a dramatic “The Shadow Of Your Smile”. There is a thick electronic R&B street feel on the noir alley of “Why” and some synthy pan pipes support the hip hoppy “Be Your Everything” as well, making for a dance club request.
On the other side of the street, Mizzoni gets romantic and looks into your eyes with simple voices and piano on the elegant “I Used To Love” and the tenderly personal “I Wanna Know”. His gives an aria like plead in piano trio for m ate on the intimate “When It Rains” and is earnest on the poppish “All I Know”. He’s his jazziest as he supports himself on the tenor sax on the classy “I Belong To You” and exudes the best of crooners on the dramatic “If I”. Wide ranging album, and it would be fun to see him in concert to figure out which color of this musical rainbow is most exhibited. A wide palate and brush.