Exactly!  And if there are figures after the 4th measure, a (4) placed over the 
4th measure helps clarify things.  I vacillate between overwriting for drummers 
and not putting in things they need to remind them of what to play.  I never 
seem to get it just right.  And there are some for whom nothing is needed after 
the first couple of run throughs.

Rhythm section parts in jazz arrangements are often best interpreted loosely, 
but if that loose interpretation results in things the arranger/composer 
doesn’t want, then more specific notation is required.  Ellington wrote as 
little as possible in his bass parts (probably for the drums too). 

 I end up copying specific rhythm section harmonies, with the included 
ancillary passing changes, in parts for soloists - partly out of having gotten 
into the habit of reading Bill Evans’ chord charts when I was playing with him. 
 Now, years after all those performances with Bill, I realize that many of 
those details were important in the head and in giving direction to the bass 
part, but Bill often ignored them in his own improvisations - hewing only to 
the general harmonic outlines and leaving the passing chord details to the 
accompaniment.  I expect my soloists to do the same - so they have to “edit 
out” extraneous information as they read changes.  But I like to let them know 
what’s there, in case they want to incorporate the information.  It’s a 
balancing act - often successful when the soloist allows the passing harmonies 
to clash momentarily and then resolve.  

Written music is an impoverished version of what we hear in good performances.  
It’s a wonder we even come close.

Drum parts remain somewhat mysterious and are best tailored to the drummer of 
the moment.  That said, I agree that MM rests are rarely a good solution.

Chuck


> On Jan 25, 2015, at 11:03 AM, Darcy James Argue <[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> What Jef said x1000.
> 
> Multimeasure rests (instead of actual measures) in the drum part are the 
> worst.
> 
> Just use slash marks, with a little (8) above the final measure of an 
> eight-measure system, etc.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> - DJA
> -----
> WEB: http://www.secretsocietymusic.org
> 
> On Jan 23, 2015, at 4:14 PM, SN jef chippewa <[email protected]> 
> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> simplest solution: since it isn't a rest, don't use MM rests :-) -- 
>> that would effectively distinguish it from a MM rest.
>> 
>> 8 measures per system (for ex.) with no text indications or whatever 
>> doesn't clutter the part.  and if the band needs to start from a 
>> particular measure in such a passage, everyone who needs to play has 
>> it as a real measure.
>> 
>> just sayin'.
>> 
>> -- 
>> 
>> NEW!!! neueweise -- fonts for new music and traditional notation
>> 
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