maxresdefault.jpg

“Hey Bobby, why do you like soul food?”
“Because it makes me..haaapy!”

And with that probing question and answer begins the very tasty 1972 instrumental, ‘Pass The Peas,’ performed by James Brown’s inimitably funky band, The J.B.’s. Led by trombonist nonpareil Fred Wesley, The J.B.’s¹ put out numerous stellar albums during the ‘70’s era when they weren’t backing the Godfather of Soul on stage and on record, including this culinary crowd-pleaser. And when the band gets this groovy tune into serious motion, it can feel like they’re achieving something thought to be unattainable: whirled peas.

¹Not to be confused with the combustible jam ‘J’s B,’ by a favorite band of mine, Tundrastomper.