Jay Bocook, who is a noted
musician and arranger of
symphonic and
ethnic music is definitely not a
drummer. Works arranged by him are often full of
flashy and quick drum work, but lack solid beats and
rhythms needed to give the rest of the band a foundation. Instead, his music often
drowns them out entirely.
For example, in New World Symphony, which lists Bocook as an arranger, there are 24th notes all over the place. Even during long half and quarter lines by the woodwinds, there are repetitive accents everywhere. What often happens, sadly, is that musicians who don't know what they are talking about when it comes to percussion often throw as much as they can in, to make them seem like good arrangers. However, the best way to approach music is not just using sound, but using the lack of sound in an aesthetic way.