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Dixie is based on improv. Try getting a recording of the tune you want to play and give everybody in the band a copy of the recording and a lead sheet. Then go make music.
Good Luck, Phil

There are dixie books that include standards arranged for each instrument - everything already written out.

Phil is right, though. Dixie is based on improvisation - using the tune and changes as your "form" and improvising all of the rhythmic and harmonic content around the tune. By reading notated music only you really are missing out on the experience of traditional jazz. Phil's comment about finding good recordings and having each player learn the part is right on the money. Individual players can even transcribe their own parts to paper - this process will help teach the players style and HOW TO improvise. There are standardized ways of doing things in a Dixieland band - each player has to learn the traditional role of their instrument. Actively listening to recordings and live performances is a great way to learn the tradition - as is playing with seasoned players.

Seek out some people who know the style and can give you some "tricks of the trade." And by all means. . . have fun!

Super Smooth wrote:A lot of people seem to have the nuckle head idea that if you just listen to a tune it will come together, sort of like how the "Dukes of Dixie-land" started out. If I have the story right,they used to sit around and play along to recordings with their instruments, one day they turned the recordings off to see what they would sound like. They thought they had a pretty good band sound. If you ask me, they should have never turned off the recordings..

WOW.
WOW.
I need to say something here. Lowell Miller was an incredible bassist and tubaist. That band is what this music sounds like, they are state of the art. Where do you play? Who do you play with? Are you just joking? Drunk? Loving the power of anonymity?
Here's my name---what's yours?

Peace.
Arnold S. Gottlieb

Along about Memorial Day every year in Sacramento they have a giant Dixieland festival. I had the great pleasure of playing a couple of years. There usually are about 100 bands or more. It seems that it is very rare to see a music stand - maybe a few in the student groups. Dixieland music has been described as group inprovisation. Many of the groups have very well worked out charts but the improv is still there - it has to be to sound like Dixie. Remember that Dixie is one of the early forms of Jazz. Jazz usually implies a great deal of improv especially with smaller groups. You can write out all of the charts you want and play from individual parts all you want but it won't sound like a good Dixieland band.
Just my opinion. Phil

Bloke,
With each post, I come to repect you more and more...

Okay.... I know, I know Some of you Dixie purists out there think that the ONLY way to play the stuff is to just 'feel it'. However, there are a lot of us dummies who would rather use REAL MUSIC! We've found that our Dixie group is one heck of a lot easier to manage if folks can 'stand in' without hours of rehearsal time to get up to speed. We use REAL MUSIC and are proud of it. The audience certainly doesn't know (or care for that matter!)

Here's a source for lots of transcriptions....

http://www.prjc.org/tjen/resources.htm

We've been experimenting with some of Scott Sproxton transcriptions and have found them to be quite 'original' sounding.

I like to read. Flame away!

Super Smooth wrote:

ArnoldGottlieb wrote:

Super Smooth wrote:A lot of people seem to have the nuckle head idea that if you just listen to a tune it will come together, sort of like how the "Dukes of Dixie-land" started out. If I have the story right,they used to sit around and play along to recordings with their instruments, one day they turned the recordings off to see what they would sound like. They thought they had a pretty good band sound. If you ask me, they should have never turned off the recordings..

WOW.
WOW.
I need to say something here. Lowell Miller was an incredible bassist and tubaist. That band is what this music sounds like, they are state of the art. Where do you play? Who do you play with? Are you just joking? Drunk? Loving the power of anonymity?
Here's my name---what's yours?

Peace.
Arnold S. Gottlieb

Huh, what? Where are you coming from? Should I not make any strong comments about what I like or don't like??? Really didn't I say what I dont like about the Dukes? I listened to them and just didn't like it, am I not entitled to an opinion?

Now, as for anonymity I prefer to fly under the radar, because of stupid disagreements like this one. Do you challenge everyone who posts something you don't like to stand up and tell us their name? You are being ridiculous Arnold!! Have I used foul or offensive language in any way shape or form? Have I done anything other than state my opinions? Have I done any name calling?

I'm not breaking any rules by being anonymous, so if you'd like to start a board where eveyone has to use their real name, I'm sure that it would go over splendidly. I'm not drunk, or pulling your leg or on a power trip of any kind, check your own motives please!! For instance why do you sign your post "Peace" after you finish attacking me?

Hey SS,
You can make all of the comments on a public board that you like and I'll make all of the comments I like, how's that? And no, you didn't say what you didn't like about the dukes.
As far as your anonymity, yes, when people make hurtful comments about a person (or a group) I call them out and ask them to identify themselves, I'm very consistent about this. As we both know, I know who you are as you inquired about a tuba I was selling, I'm not posting your name, I'm making the point that you're saying some pretty big words about some pretty big legends. Some of whom you refered to as "knukleheads". If that's your opinion, what are your playing credentials to base it on?
As far as signing my posts with 'peace', it's my wish for peace that I try to remember in everything I do. Even when "calling someone out". To that end.
Peace.
Arnold S. Gottlieb

My "seat of your pants" band challenges your chamber ensemble to a duel.

Super Smooth wrote:.

Ok, Arnold, about the Dukes of Dixieland, (hey that's not their real name is it?? Or are they they Assunti's of Dixieland??) This is what I think perturbed you.

A lot of people seem to have the nuckle head idea that if you just listen to a tune it will come together, sort of like how the "Dukes of Dixie-land" started out.

I suppose that is, in a roundabout way calling the Dukes knuckle heads. I am sorry for that.. But I do still consider the original Dukes to be less than stellar. Just compare them with somebody like Bix Beiderbecke and you should understand what I mean. I then went on to make some inaccurate statements concerning bands with the name "The Dukes of Dixieland" possibly confusing the Original Dukes with a later band. Bloke brought the error to my full attention, thanks bloke.

And yes you do know who I am, so what?? Are you going to out me now? Yes, that so and so that didn't like the Dukes of Dixieland is ____ ________??? That's certainly a peaceful way of thinking!!

ArnoldGottlieb wrote:Hey SS,
You can make all of the comments on a public board that you like and I'll make all of the comments I like, how's that? And no, you didn't say what you didn't like about the dukes.
As far as your anonymity, yes, when people make hurtful comments about a person (or a group) I call them out and ask them to identify themselves, I'm very consistent about this. As we both know, I know who you are as you inquired about a tuba I was selling, I'm not posting your name, I'm making the point that you're saying some pretty big words about some pretty big legends. Some of whom you refered to as "knukleheads". If that's your opinion, what are your playing credentials to base it on?
As far as signing my posts with 'peace', it's my wish for peace that I try to remember in everything I do. Even when "calling someone out". To that end.
Peace.
Arnold S. Gottlieb

SS
Perhaps you can read my posts before commenting on them.
Peace.
ASG

When did it become so important to get the dots down correctly?

Does anyone else see the irony here?
Seriously though, I've been trying (halfheartedly) to put together a similar group for years and find that the best thing for us is to either read from a lead sheet or Fake Book (the Real Book is legal now, yeah!) or to listen to the recordings and play it just like the record. If you don't have "Heavy Metal Duo" with Bob Stewart and Ray Anderson, check it out! Although it is admittedly not high on my tuba CD rotaion list, there is definitely some good stuff happening and it would be fairly easy for a competent trumpet player to add in a 3rd part. Also check out some of Ray's other work with the Pocket Brass Band.
I'd love to hear how your arrangements work out with the group, perhaps you'll consider sharing them? I could trade you for some arrangements of Bach keyboard works for trombone/tuba trio.
Best of luck,
MF

Getting back to your original question: Although my own traditional jazz band has never used written arrangements and never will, I have done a lot of arranging for student groups. The Lu Watters charts are a good place to start if you need ideas. There are also some fine charts out there by Doc Evans, generally more polished than the Watters stuff. The two most important things (for me) are:
(1) to be able to hear what I have written, played back on a decent synthesizer, and
(2) to be able to listen critically to those playbacks and decide what needs to be changed. You have to imagine playing each instrument, and ask yourself how you would improvise an interesting part. (A lot of playing experience is necessary.)

After that it is only a matter of time and patience. Eventually I reach a point where further adjustments do not really improve anything, and that is where I stop arranging and start printing out parts. If you are lucky enough to get performers who can read well enough to sound like they are improvising then the whole process can be very rewarding.

Another approach that has led to some very successful (but harder-to-read) arrangements is to start out by transcribing an existing recording. You can never get it onto paper perfectly, but even a crude approximation of what a great band played is often better than anything a mere individual could ever think of. In the process you can learn a lot about how a good band works, and that improves your own writing tremendously.