[Dixielandjazz] Doin' theHambone

[David Richoux]

Interesting topic!

Some people say it is related to the juba dance:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hambone

But I have seen several pretty good Hambone players - even the guy  
who ALWAYS got a guest solo when he showed up at Bay Area jazz gigs  
(sorry, cannot remember his name but I think he was still alive as  
recently as the early 1990s ) that have little to do with the dance  
aspect. This is more from the Minstrel Show aspect of Hambone  
playing, I think.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minstrel_show

Anyway, they are played much like the Spoons, they are flattened  
sticks of bone played by slapping them and clicking them together on  
the thigh (or just about any other part of the body you can reach.  
Usually they are held together in one hand so each "bone" can rattle  
and make noise.

If you don't have bones you can just use your cupped hands, slapping  
on the chest (like Bobby McFerrin does) or thighs. It is a pretty  
open ended thing, like scat singing, mouth popping and skull drumming...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3808990741546089830&q=playing 
+hambone

Dave Richoux

On Apr 26, 2007, at 6:11 PM, Bob Romans wrote:

> Does ANYONE out there in OKOM land know how to HAMBONE?
> Warm regards,
> Bob Romans,
> 1617 Lakeshore Dr.,
> Lodi, Calif. 95242
> Ph 209-747-1148
> www.cellblockseven2002.net
>