If Bunny Sigler, best known for penning legendary soul records for Patti LaBelle and the O’Jays, abides by one singular coda, it would be that life is too short to be so serious. Since the 70s, the legendary Philly songwriter has played with his charming Ladies-loving alter ego Bundino and has even explored the land of funk inside Instant Funk’s maiden voyages  — akin to Prince with The Time. In those musical caveats, Sigler has unearthed an uncanny persona than the ones mostly evidenced on his own popular compositions or those he’s ascribed to others.

On Bundino, Sigler’s latest collection released on his own independent label, he entertains the war using a host of styles and ideas, some miles away from the prevailing stereotype that comes with musicians peaking past their prime. Instead of settling into the status of genteel crooner, the 73-year old singer tests the waters of it all, pulling off a musical buffet aimed at every potential listener. “Red or Yellow,” a love letter to the beauty of diversity, plays like a percussion-heavy Destiny’s Child-meets-Santana track. The opening prelude, “Let’s Start the Show,” is clearly a pompous breakthrough for Mr. Bundino, as he comes out swinging using roof-raising high notes and power belting. The personality of Bundino leaks over into “Call 911.” Having too much fun and “slapping booties” is on the agenda, and it’s enough to send Sigler overboard: “I’m about to have a heart attack/I might not come back.” The most ambitious of opportunities on Bundino is his giant leap into hip-hop on “I’ve Been There Before” and “Keep on Stepping,” leaving rapper Rashad Jamal Floyd to decorate his baby-making soul with impressive mid-tier rhyme spitting. Sigler even drips some of urban culture’s slick ink on the lyrics, singing “Though you were my boo/’Til I hard another guy was doing you.” It’s refreshing to hear something so relevant and so atypical as “Keep on Stepping” on Sigler. As a bonus to the itinerary, he even reunites with the crew of Instant Funk (“I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)”) to produce “Buttermilk and Cornbread,” one of the album’s heartiest jams. The bluesy funk jam, which runs on guitar riffs similar to Quincy Jones’ “Killer Joe,” plays like a tribute to Southern culture and risqué innuendo loving: “When I go down south/Put it in my mouth.”

As Sigler stretches across a sea of musical variety on Bundino, some of its songs lack superiority in composition and execution. When he goes for surly pop on the inspirational ditty “Stand Up,” only Sigler and his barrage of emotive ad-libs sound alive. Then “Song for Sig” slips into an unfortunate contemporary jazz coma. The slow jam “Now That I Gotcha, Got Ya Back” also lacks considerable gusto. If only it had been sprinkled with some Isley Brothers sauce.

Does the soul veteran display anything as big or timeless as “Love, Need and Want You” or “Let Me Make Love to You” on Bundino? No, not really. But he comes close with “I Don’t Give My Heart,” where Sigler pleads to a potential lover of not resorting to frivolous one night stands while aiming for something more meaningful. He sounds poised and alive on the youthful R&B grooves. Sigler also creates a sweet, heartwarming love letter on “Lavada.” Inside the Phil Hurt/Sigler composition, he boldly confesses to the luxuriousness of that name, hailing her over Mona Lisa, Halle Berry and Beyoncé.

The set doesn’t exactly touch the glow of Sigler’s proudest moments, exceed the versatile prowess of 2012’s From Bunny With Love & A Little Soul or soar past the bad-ass funk ‘n soul 1977 LP Let Me Party With You, but it is a worthy testament of Sigler’s staying power. Mr. Bundino is proving that Mr. Biggs isn’t the only senior that can play and have fun.

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