Albums like Miles Davis - Porgy and Bess?

I think Monk's Blues is disliked because the arrangements are very busy and loud, essentially reducing Monk to a sidemen on his own album. You really don't get much of his style coming through the bombast. If you listen to it as an Oliver Nelson album covering Monk, it's a little more palatable. As a Monk album it's not one of his best.

 

Has anyone recommended any Duke Ellington?

Duke Ellington.

 

Phil Schaap, who produced and oversaw remastering of the 1997 reissues of the Miles and Gil Evans albums, tended to go for a bright sound. Like you, I prefer the Columbia Jazz Masterpieces editions of the Gil collaborations, or the versions in the Complete Columbia Albums box.

 

I see, good point. He’s such a unique composer that he still comes through plenty to my ears.

 

ENRICO RAVA ON THE DANCEFLOOR better realization

 

Because Monk wasn't as involved and its slicker probably. I like it too.

 

Birth of The Cool and Gil's own 60s albums.

 

Is the Complete Columbia box a different mastering than the 97 reissue? Sounds the same to me.

 

I'm not a huge Ellington fan -- I know, I know, that's a major character flaw -- but of the Duke albums that I've heard, "Such Sweet Thunder" is the one that most reminds me of Miles' "Porgy and Bess." Maybe it's because on that album Ellington's band plays relatively quietly and sweetly (though it does occasionally thunder). Are there others like that in the Ellington catalog?

 

Oh for sure. A bunch of the “Suites” are generally cut from the same cloth, although they might not be quite as mellow all the way through. But lots to explore there for sure.