[Dixielandjazz] Muskrat Ramble

[Graham Martin]

G'day guys,



May I expand the topic somewhat? I always have problems playing Muskat Ramble with different bands because everybody has a their own idea of how it should be played. I often hear an argument about what it is really called. The main musical argument is about what theme to use for solos, A or B? Or rather, on what theme should the trumpet, clarinet and others play their solos; because it is quite clear to me that the trombone traditionally plays a solo on Theme B.

 

I have studied the Hot 5 version and my analysis says they play it like this:

 

Theme A - 16 Bars - Ensemble

Theme B - 16 Bars. Stop Chords on Bars 1 & 2, and 9 & 10. - Ensemble

Theme B - Stop Chords on Bars 1 & 2 and 9 & 10 (with a slight difference in the stop chord progression and includes some pushes) - Trombone Solo (very famous, and a lot of us (we trombonists) just play Ory's solo).

Theme C? - Solo by Louis Armstrong (Chords are different to Theme A)

Theme C? - Solo by Clarinet

Theme C? - Ensemble with trombone playing descending octaves. Kind of a riff.

Theme C? - Ensemble ride out

Tag Ending by trombone and Doo Bop from ensemble.

 

Note: There are subtle differences to the chord progression throughout this tune but the progression used by Louis in his solo has very different chords to Theme A as played in the ensemble.

 

So what do you guys think? Is my Theme 'C' actually Theme 'A', as many of my friends in jazz insist? I even know one bandleader who insists all the solos should be based on Theme B, but without the stop chords. How DO you guys play it?

 

Don't tell me is doesn't matter. It matters to ME! (Grin)

 

Best,

 

Grah


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