Very happy with this SHM-CDs from CDJAPAN, top end is more "sparkly, maybe a bit too much boost, the sound is very open. The 1997 realease is alao very good, with the nod going to the SHM-CDs for their open sound. NBy no means should this be considered an endorsement of all SHM-CDs. I found the recent Alice Coltrane SHM-CDs to be a bit of a mixed bag, especially the piano reproduction. Same with the Archie Shepp SHM-CDs, a bit of a mixed bag.
The problem with Monk cover albums always isā¦does it really need themā¦and which oneās really good? Could be a nice challenge to name the really necessary ones. Iād have to think for a while, too. The Esbjorn Svensson I like for a few tracks, as well as some othersā¦but whatās essential?
The even less necessary cover albums are of Bill Evans 
Happy New Year to all! Looking forward to a more sane 2022, and glad to leave 2021 behind. Peace and well wishes to all for the future.
I can see how that might be. As a guy who has a dozen guitars Iāve been fascinated by these recordings for a while now and love the very sound of his guitar.
I agree whole heartedly on both counts. Bought the set from the musician to support his art and will leave it there for his Monk covers. Monk had a way that canāt and to my ears shouldnāt be duplicated. One cover comes to mind that I enjoy, posted separately below. Bill Evans is also unique and maybe someone could suggest covers they enjoy, personally I just spin an original Bill Evan when in the mood.
I am so hungry for music, and I like so many artists that I donāt at all think in terms of āessential.ā This with the late Frank Kimbrough and the multi-reed playing Scott Robinson is excellent imo.
He truly has that going for him, as well as talent. He came across as over reaching regarding Monk. I should return to them in smaller doses to fully appreciate the effort. In person Miles was exceptional, so thereās that. Glad to learn you enjoy it.
Yes, I enjoy Frank, but would prefer Monk straight than Frankās renditions.
Well weāre all differentāI enjoy other interpretations of Monk. For Monk straight (no chaser) we have lots of the real thing. (I wish someone would release nice masterings of his very late quartets with Paul Jeffrey though).
This is a very thoughtful one:
Yes I also remember a few nice Monk pieces on one of Herschās old Chesky albums.
Yes I think Bill Evans canāt be covered meaningfully at all. Monk can theoretically, but imo the better, the further away the covers are from classic, acoustical straight ahead jazz, so the less similar to Monk himself in style or instrumentation, the more abstract, the better. When Iām back from holiday Iāll take a look what I can find in my collection. I remember some Monk covers played extremely slowly that was interesting, but not sureā¦have to search.
This one by Marty is cool.
Though my favorite Nichols is this solo piano one. . . wow.
I get sucked into a fascinating pianistic universe each time I play it.
Listening at the moment, a whirlwind to be sure.
