Author: John Morton
Date: 2004-06-29 18:49
I have the C and Bb versions of David Littlefield's Dixieland Fakebook, and can recommend it. I also have a great many other fakebooks with which to compare, and I would say Littlefield gets high marks for legibility.
Some other pluses: verses are included (usually left out in fakebooks); a number of famous solos are written out on adjacent pages, e.g. Bix and Tram's solos on Singin' the Blues, the Picou High Society line etc.; many lyrics are included, and a great deal more are emailed when you order the book; the book is constantly maintained - I have submitted corrections to which DW responded immediately, and I understand you can send for updates as they are available.
There is a sample page:
http://americanmusiccaravan.com/books.html#ordering%20FB
Mostly I have no problem with the harmonizations - there's always room for argument, but I think they're pretty true to the era (e.g. no minor 7ths or 9ths on old tunes, etc.). I do think he does a poor job on credits and documentation, often supplying the name and date of a famous performance of the tune, but not the composer and date of composition. Lots of references to Firehouse Five, Turk Murphy and such.
There are performance suggestions which must be intended to help you fit in with Dixieland custom. I personally feel these are a bad thing, having the effect of cutting the player off from the inspiration that can be got from the original arrangements, and promulgating the cliches of modern Dixieland.
I look forward to DW's impending book ("Vol. 2") of transcriptions direct from Jelly Roll, Oliver and Armstrong recordings.
John Morton
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The Clarinet BBoard
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