Podcast 156: Eat Your Vegetables

I've had some fun in the past with "theme shows", like the one I did a few years back on songs with the word "Jungle" in the title. This week, its a visit to the crisper bin in the refridgerator with songs titled after vegetables. Click here to get your daily dose of necessary vitamins and roughage from: Wes Montgomery - "Green Peppers" from California Dreaming. By the time Wes recorded this number in 1966, his days of burning it up seemed past him, as he concentrated on pop tunes. You could have fooled me with this funky one, powered by percussion by Ray Barretto and Grady Tate, and piano by Herbie Hancock. Cal Tjader - "Sally's Tomato" from Sona Libre.  The latin music playing  vibraphonist teams with Clare Fischer on organ, Fred Schneider on bass, Johnny Rae on drums, and Bill Fitch on conga for a 1963 Verve session. And yes, I know the tomato is a fruit, not a vegetable. My blog, my rules of inclusion. Hank Marr - "The Squash" from Greasy Spoon.  Blues great Albert King gives Hammond B-3 player Marr a boost in a 1960 recording. Rusty Bryant adds the distinctive saxophone. Freddie Roach - Title Track from Mo' Greens Please.  One of Blue Note Record's best B-3 players, Freddie's band for this funky number includes Eddie Wright on guitar, Clarence Johnston on drums, and Connie Lester on sax. Art Pepper - "Red Pepper Blues" from Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section.  An absolutely classic album matches the troubled bop saxophone player with an all-star supporting cast - the Miles Davis rhythm section of pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. The song is credited to Garland. Weather Report - "Cucumber Slumber" from Mysterious Traveler.  The 1974 version of the seminal fusion group was Wayne Shorter on saxophone, Joe Zawinal on keyboards, Alphonso Johnson on bass and Ishmael Wilburn on drums. A funky electric ending to a fun podcast!  Special thanks to Funky16Corners for some of the vegetables used in this podcast.