Iggy Pop : Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2023
At first glance, Iggy Pop – Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2023 might seem like an incongruous string of words. But a drop of the needle on this live set from that famed jazz fest treats the listener to a career-spanning retrospective that swings just as hard as any actual jazz album. The septuagenarian Pop shows no signs of slowing down, and this record serves to remind listeners of why he is the Godfather of Punk Rock.
The proceedings commence with a rowdy version of “Five Foot One,” from 1979’s New Values, with all the grit of the original and the added treat of a horn section, and searing trombone and guitar solos. The seven-piece ensemble chugs right along into “T.V. Eyes”, originally released on The Stooges’ 1970 masterpiece Fun House and into some newer fare by way of “Modern Day Ripoff,” from Pop’s latest studio release Every Loser. It’s a perfect example of Pop’s commitment to his aesthetic: this cut would have been equally at home on any classic Stooges record. The horn section is featured to great effect here as well, laying down some bluesy licks.
Listeners are subsequently treated to two chestnuts off the Stooges’ 1973 David Bowie-produced Raw Power. The title cut features rollicking Jerry Lee Lewis-inspired piano flourishes, and “Gimme Danger” is made fresh with many dynamic shifts that were absent on the original. Pop and his ensemble give listeners another two-for-one special from 1977’s Lust For Life, serving up a jazz-inspired version of “The Passenger” with a swinging Hammond organ solo succeeded by a smoldering version of the title track.
The band lets the dust settle with an ambient rendition of “Endless Summer,” also off New Values, but in the blink of an eye, they’re back to rocking with a Chuck-Berry-on-psychedelics take on 1973’s “Death Trip.” Just in case the audience forgot they were at a jazz festival, 1980’s “I’m Sick of You” features some great extended harmony trumpet playing, leaving one to ponder how different the intentions of jazz and punk truly are.
Pop takes us back to where it all started for “I Wanna Be Your Dog” from the Stooges’ 1969 self titled LP, complete with him barking like a dog to cue the band in. This segues into a take-no-prisoners reading of “Raw Power,” and uproarious cheers for more when they leave the stage. Ask and you shall receive: they return for a six-song encore, the highlight of which is a swinging take on Pop’s iconic “Nightclubbing.” Iggy Pop is a force of nature, and this record proves he is as potent as he was a half century ago.
Label: earMusic
Year: 2025
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