Duke ellington/Count basie....

...don't forget Basie as backup band to Frank Sinatra: Live at the Sands! Both at the top of their game w/ a young Quincy Jones conducting - a must have!

Johnny Hodges was a featured sax player for Duke Ellington. Billy Strayhorn was Ellington's arranger. They made a fabulous recording called "Johnny Hodges With Billy Strayhorn's Orchestra". There are sound bytes available on Amazon, but I predict you will absolutely love it. Although I consider myself a "rocker", this is one of my all-time favorites.

Just wanted to add to this thread.

Recently "Basie Plays Hefti" became available on CD. (previously ONLY available on Vinyl - CD sounds like it is taken from a good Vinyl copy).

I can report this is an absolutely awesome CD and Sonny Payne never sounded so good!

It is light hearted jazz of a "pop" style but it still holds up against most Jazz out there. There are a few clicks here and there but we are talking a fairly old recording.

I highly recommend it. Most fans out there should have the more famous Basie Hefti collaboration "Atomic Mr Basie and this makes a nice addition.