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- The Analog Vault // Essential Listening -

Besides Jimmy Smith, nobody has put the Hammond organ on the map with more verve than B-3 maestro Dr. Lonnie Smith. Recorded at New York’s Jazz Standard in 2017 as part of the iconoclast’s 75th birthday bash, Breathe is live evidence that the legendary veteran was still in his musical prime - dozens of albums and over a half century after his debut.

Surrounded by a star-studded cast including guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg and drummer Johnathan Blake, alongside a feisty horn section, this boisterous and energetic performance is an all-timer. From the frenetic buoyancy of “Track 9” and “Bright Eyes,” to the introspective vulnerability of “Too Damn Hot” and “World Weeps,” to its studio bookends featuring Iggy Pop - Breathe’s exhalations leaves one breathless. - The Analog Vault

Breathe captures the Hammond B-3 organ legend Dr. Lonnie Smith during his 75th birthday run at the Jazz Standard in NYC in 2017, the same week he recorded his acclaimed trio album All In My Mind. On this night the good doctor took the stage with an expanded line-up featuring Jonathan Kreisberg on guitar, Johnathan Blake on drums, John Ellis on tenor saxophone, Jason Marshall on baritone saxophone, Sean Jones on trumpet, and Robin Eubanks on trombone. Two additional studio tracks that open and close the album present the unique collaboration between Doc and Iggy Pop including a sublime cover of Donovan’s 1966 hit “Sunshine Superman.”  — (via Label)

Veteran Hammond B-3 master Dr. Lonnie Smith pairs with punk icon Iggy Pop on his inspired and deeply funky 2021 album Breathe.

Smith initially came into his own in the 1960s, releasing a string of groove-based albums for Blue Note, including 1968's Think!, that helped define the sound of forward-thinking organ jazz. Over 30 years after his last album for Blue Note, he returned to the label with 2016's vibrant Evolution and 2018's All in My Mind; albums that found him recapturing the earthy energy of his original recordings.

Continuing this latter-career resurgence, Breathe again finds him working with producer Don Was, and backed by an energetic ensemble of all-stars including guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg and drummer Johnathan Blake, who make up his core trio. He also expands the group to a septet on several tracks, bringing trumpeter Sean Jones, tenor saxophonist John Ellis, baritone saxophonist Jason Marshall, and trombonist Robin Eubanks on board.

Smith's work with Pop bookends that album as they offer a smoky, Doors-esque rendition of Timmy Thomas' 1972 soul anthem "Why Can't We Live Together" and a relaxed, boogaloo-style work-up of Donovan's '60s classic "Sunshine Superman." Both of these songs were recorded in studio and feature added percussion from Richard Bravo. They are wry, ebullient recordings that make a surprising case for Pop as a jazz crooner.

The core of the album finds Smith leading his band through a series of energetic performances captured live at The Jazz Standard in New York City. Among these are several inspired Smith originals including "Bright Eyes," a breezy 3/4 anthem that brings to mind his '60s work. Equally engaging are the slow-grooving "Track 9," which spotlights a fiery solo from trumpeter Jones, and the gospel-inflected "Pilgrimage," featuring vocalist Alicia Olatuja. Smith also jumps into a bug-like take on Thelonious Monk's "Epistrophy" that evokes the spacy sound of Herbie Hancock's 1973 Sextant album.

Few legacy artists are as capable at conjuring the urgency and youthful energy of their classic recordings as Smith has been since returning to Blue Note, and Breathe is no exception.  — (via Matt Collar // AllMusic)

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Label: Blue Note Records
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album
Released: 2021
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop, Soul-Jazz, Organ

File under: Blue Note Records
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