I really appreciate the straightforward four-measures-per-line format.  I
know you could have saved a lot of room by condensing the simple measures
and using lots of repeats, but this format is so much easier to follow.

I also like that you included the verses to many of the songs.  It wasn't
too many years ago that I didn't even know songs _had_ verses (or at least
they used to).  Now the song seems incomplete if the performers skip the verse.

I think my favorite features of this work are the performance notes and
routine descriptions.  They really make the music jump off the flat page and
into your imagination.  Very helpful in a practical sense, but also very
entertaining.

Nice work, Sheik.  And thanks".
                                     *****************************
"I received the book yesterday,  and am really delighted
with it. Your song selection is terrific; the music is clear and easy to
read; your comments are very helpful; your transcriptions of solos are
wonderful. Congratulations on a truly great job!"
                                     *****************************
"I received my copy of David's book yesterday and am very impressed with
it.  I carry David's D-Cup book as a regular accessory in my banjo bag.
This new book has a great selection of Dixieand tunes all in good clean
readable format.
Unlike most fake books, this one has all useable songs.  For any of you
even entertaining the idea of playing dixieland style banjo, this book
gives a great selection of songs with the generally  used keys and good
advice on how many songs are usually played."
                                     ******************************
"Dear David
Thank you for shipping my Dixie book so quickly. It's the best
 compilation of tunes I've ever seen."
                                    *******************************
"Dear Sir: It is a joie de vivre to own...your Dixieland Fakebook.
...I displayed page 57 at the weekly rehearsal...We enjoyed the unparalleled
readability of large symbols and consistent layout of 4 measures/line."
                                    *******************************
 By the way, your fake books are among the best, if not the best, of my rather extensive collection.
I know it must take a lot of work and ability to put out those books.  You've performed a great
service to guys like me who depend at lot on fake books for their musical enjoyment, and for
 professionals as well. Keep up the good work, I hope to see more books by you.
                                   ********************************
 Hi David
Man, that book is great! I especially like Mugsy's arrangements, but it is
all great. All I've been doing this week is going thru it. I've never had
anything like it before...it's the real thing!
                                    *******************************
From Dixieland Jazz Mailing list, 10/18/01:

"Recently I ordered David's fake books, and they are awesome...so well
done, and SO easy to read!!
If anyone is looking for sources for some new tunes, or even old
tunes...I highly recommend these treasures!!!
I found tunes that I had forgotten about years ago..."

Me too. It is an excellent effort and every musician should have them.
Every one who sees mine raves about it. To order, Sheik's  e mail is:
<dwlit@cpcug.org>

I most emphatically agree with Bob R's endorsement of Sheiks fake books
and would also add my high rating of his chord books - both outstanding
A friend of mine once commented to me that I should rely on the chord books
as being correct chords and can be relied upon.
                                    *************************
 From Fourstring Banjo Mailing List, 11/7/01

"our listmate David Littlefield deserves recognition for the excellent labour of
love he has done in his ongoing series of fakebooks.
    I have bought several sets of them over the last year, & i reference
them almost daily.  When i break out the books at a jam i get lots of
questions about where they came from...
    David has put together the most comprehensive set of
fakebooks featuring our kind of music that i am aware of.  There is no
"crap" to sort through or decipher, though there is a liberal scattering of
helpful hints & half-crazed humor (that David is mostly unaware of).  He
keeps the format clear & extremely legible, four measures to the bar, mostly
one song to the page.  The Chord progressions are to the point,  &
consistent to thier period, including small but important details like
end-beat chord changes on 20's tunes that corporate publishers would never
think to include.   I have noticed that other musicians who have never
played these songs find the books easy to follow, & it is always funny
watching our mountain musicians get wide-eyed when they see these songs on
paper & realize they can actually play them.  I had never really given their
accessibility much thought before, but i suppose that this is probably their
strongest asset.
    Anyway, David's done a great service for our music, & given it something
in his fakebooks that the rest of us can enjoy & benefit for many years to
come.  Thank you for seeing through with such a large, & much needed
project."

"I also would second the comments-- as a friend of mine also said stick to
sheik's chord  books and fake books and you have a winner"

"I have been using David's books for a long time. His D-Cup book is the
perfect book for people like me who have a hard time remembering chords.
The book easily fits in your case and is a ready reference for almost every
song that a Dixieland band is likely to play.  It does not have a melody
line. It only has chords. The print is large enough so I can toss the book
on the floor next to me and still see it. The advantage of this is that you
don't rely on the book completely but it is there if you should need it. I
have reached the point now where I may only use the book for a song or
two(usually on the bridges) but when someone calls a song that we have not
played for a long time, it is a wonderful crutch to have available.
He also has books with melody lines availble which are also very good but
for my specific needs, the D-Cup is a godsend."
                                        ********************************
From Sax On The Web Forum, 11/17/02:

"Having this book has been a lifesaver when playing dixieland with the Navy pros.
I was lucky to play one day with the guy that put this book together
and found out he had one in Bb (mine was in C). It's made my life much easier.
Not only does it have the 100 "must learn" dixieland songs,
but it's got other standards too. His name is David Littlefield and his book is great."
                                        ********************************
"I 've been buliding my own combo variety book for over a year. Then I saw your web site. Your Gig Book covered every tune I ever wanted in a book."