Need some recommendations - hard driving big band


Hi...Been trying to get into jazz... seems the only thing that works for me is "hard bob." I'm just starting to realize that I might prefer the big band stuff! I always thought Big Band was old fogey music...but lately it seems to me to have more fire and energy than the jazz I've been listening to. Maybe this is what I've been missing?

What I'm looking for: The best I can describe is that (like everyone) I love Duke's (fake or real) Diminuendo in Blue.... Give me a few albums of that type of stuff and I'll never leave the house!

I'm thinking Count Basie? But I I have no idea where to start.

Again, I want it hard driving/rocking or the slow building to a boil stuff..not melodic noodling.

Does this even make sense?
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There's an old Buddy Rich album with "Birdland" on it--I think it's direct-to-disc. If I find it among my LP's I'll list the title for you. Or perhaps another member can help us out with this.
Some great suggestions here. I can second a recommendation for Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band and Marty has some interesting ideas.

One group that you might enjoy is Roomful of Blues. While not a traditional big band, their horn section drives great orchestration for the west coast jump blues genre. My favorites are the albums with Sugar Ray Norcia as lead singer: "Dance all Night", Turn It On, Turn It Up", and "Under One Roof". If you like this style, Sugar Ray Norcia's solo albums are worth checking out- particularly the last two or three releases.
"Hard Bob"? I think you're confusing the jazz term with the name of an actor in one of your DVDs.
@Chayro ... Stupid autocorrect!! Odd though...looks like you're the first to notice (or at least the first compelled to comment). Not that there's anything wrong with that Chayro... I say live and let live ; )
To everyone else not looking for typos: ) Thank you all so very much...some awesome suggestions....did a bunch of sampling on Amazon.... For one, the Microscopic Septet sounds extremely promising.

What's this "Pandora" that you speak of? Does that have something to do with the Google or the Interweb? ; )