This poet, painter, and former lawyer from Asti, Italy, has been dazzling Italian audiences since the early 1970s but has just blazed into U.S. consciousness like a meteor with his Best Of debut album on Nonsesuch. After listening to his European style of cabaret music, you too will be hooked on the crooner who is widely appreciated for rhyming Napoli with Minneapoli. The selection of 20 songs ranges in style from a mixture of French chansonette to tango. All feature his raspy voice (Americans may be reminded of Tom Waits) with unmistakably wry lyrics that offer lovers and listeners alike the sensuality and complexity of gelato al limon (lemon ice cream). --Cristina Del Sesto
