[HAM] How to Squabble

[Scott Hawthorn]

At 03:10 AM 6/4/2007, joe d wrote:
>>   I guess the question I have is :
>>   Is this how it's done ?
>>   Or just how Joey D . does it ?
>>   Do other players squabble the same notes ?
>
>No, actually it's just one way of doing it as it can make it easier in 
>reaching rhythmic intervals within the solo (stutters/pops/climbs/etc).
>Joey D can do it as OF described (1-4-5-1) as well as soling chord 
>specific voicings w/ extended voicings (while keeping that important 
>solo/melody note on top). In fact, i'm not sure there's anything he can't 
>do as far as jazz organ.

Here's where we could split hairs. The "squabble," as Joey refers to it, 
does consist of the locked-hand 1-4-5-8 thing, just as Jimmy Smith 
pioneered it on such tunes as "Mack the Knife." That's not to say that one 
can't play actual, correctly harmonized chords in squabble style. I have an 
absolutely killer recording of Jack McDuff playing "East of the Sun," 
(posted here a few years ago), my favorite squabble of all time, where he 
does both. He sticks to the 1-4-5-8 formula most of the time, but at 
certain moments when he feels the harmony demands it, he does change the 
note relationships within the chord, particularly when the chords get too 
far afield from the original key center, Eb. I was gonna discuss this later 
rather than sooner, but I guess I'll post it soon. Soon as I re-record it 
into my computer; I can't find the file.

>personally, i think the first thing one should do is find a song you 
>really like then work on playing the melody (squabble and single notes) 
>reeeeeeally well (until it's memorized down pat and you're really feeling 
>it).  Easier said than done of course, right? I too need to dig deeper 
>woodshedding this but in essence, when you work with a song you really 
>like and can hear...then get that melody down (so well it's hard to make 
>mistakes)...then slowly apply those squabble techniques in playing that melody.
>You'll find it will affect things when it comes time to dig into chord 
>soloing and the squabble.
>practice breathing between your lines!

Joe, this is excellent advice! I just had a talk with myself last night, 
and gave myself the exact same lecture, since my squabbling has never 
satisfied me.