How many published Monk compositions are there? Maybe around 70? Seems as though there are more than that number of CDs saluting him already. Here's yet another. And this is certainly different in that most of the edginess of his tunes, one of the characteristics that made them so outstanding and challenging, has been smoothed out and mellowed to such a degree that several now sound relatively ordinary. ‘Well You Needn't’ is given an implied 12/8 feel, then goes into a 4/4 swing section, though Kenny Barron still manages to retain some of Monk's character. ‘Blue Monk’ becomes a sort of New Orleans blues dirge with growl trombone by Wycliffe. ‘Stuffy Turkey’ (middle eight excepted) sounds as though it were written by someone else. ‘Pannonica’ is taken dreadfully slow, while ‘Let's Cool One’ becomes a jazz waltz and one of my personal Monk favourites, ‘Brilliant Corners’ is almost unrecognisable. And so it goes on. Owens is best known as a trusted sideman and a much-respected educator. He's far from being a flashy player and has hired equally tasteful musicians for this album, including the under recorded Howard Johnson on baritone and tuba. I'd defy anyone to identify Strickland correctly on the tenor solos in a blindfold test. A mixed bag indeed. Maybe an attempt to make Monk easier listening? It was never meant to be.