Dr. Lonnie Smith
Breathe
Blue Note
Dr. Lonnie Smith was up for trying new things right up to his passing in September 2021. His last album, Breathe marks the first ever collaboration between the Godfather of the Hammond B3, and the Godfather of Punk, Iggy Pop. It sounds improbable, but the pair met at one of Lonnie’s gigs and hit it off. Who knew that the Ig can be a good jazz singer. Iggy joins Dr. Smith on the opening track, the Timmy Thomas’ classic, “Why Can’t We Live Together?” and the closing track, Donovan’s “Sunshine Superman.” Between the Iggy tracks are a nice selection of the organ driven jazz Smith was renouned for. It’s always sad when we lose an elder statesman of the music world. I find it reassiuring that even as an old dog, Dr.Lonnie was still coming up with new tricks.
