Correct. Any one who wants to play Herbie Nichols music with others has to produce some sheet music. I doubt even Lady Sings The Blues/Serenade is one people can play off the top of their heads.
This is going down another rabbit hole, but there is a certain stigma attached to playing a whole program of music by a specific composer. It often gets dismissed as a tribute or gimmick, which is simple-minded. No one has such qualms in the classical realm. This was the concept I had when I started curating the Take 5 concert series at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in 2012. I encouraged artists to present entire programs of lesser-celebrated composers (Booker Little, Herbie Nichols, Grachan Moncur III, Cal Massey, Dewey Redman) but of course Shorter, Monk, Coltrane were in the mix also.
This began as a Take 5 concert, the video is from three days later:
Most guys got it and put together amazing programs. They really worked hard to explore music they were not always familiar with. A couple of guys grumbled and pulled out originals instead, something they could do on any other gig. If you are confident enough in your compositional skills...
A complete artist for me is one who can present both compelling originals and perform music in a respectful way by some of the great composers in jazz history. They do NOT have to try to sound just like the record.
Jim, please elaborate on your comment about Cal Massey.