That’s not, exactly, what I said; and, you suggest the obvious. Of course Rouse was no Coltrane. However, that is precisely what made him so perfect for Monk’s quartet. Just because any given player is of the stature of Trane (not many) doesn’t mean that he is the best fit for any given band or band leader. Each player, especially a leader, has a particular musical personality that meshes well with some players and their unique musical personalities and not others. Miles didn’t pick Coltrane or Cannonball because they were “the best”, but because he felt that their musical vision would add the most to the fulfillment of his. Why not Sonny Rollins instead of Trane? Arguably, on the same level; but, very different.
https://youtu.be/yagO50i6O5E
https://youtu.be/JiP7jKdAhD0
https://youtu.be/yagO50i6O5E
https://youtu.be/JiP7jKdAhD0