Best Band of the Big Band Era ?

Here are a few I was brought up on from my childhood:

Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians
Lionel Hampton Orchestra
Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey Big Bands
Glenn Miller Orchestra
Sammy Kaye- "Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye"
Henry Haag “Harry” James- The Harry James Orchestra

Artie Shaw

Can't argue with that, Lloydc .

I don't know Charlie Barney, but will check it out since Count Basie is a favorite, Bennie G is a hero, and Duke Ellington did some fantastic stuff with big bands - notably Far East Suite. In my book, That's a pretty good lineage to cross!

Barking up a slightly different tree, many of The jump bands like Cab Calloway were great high energy outfits that portended rock n roll. In this group, Louis Jordan is my personal favorite as that outfit provided a blueprint for Chuck Berry. Really instrumental (pun intended) in shaping the future of American popular music.

Artie Shaw and Count Basie and Tommy Dorsey, to slow the tempo up a bit, are my favorites.

Great bands already named and all before my time. But to add to the list. Cab Calloway is a fun evening of music.

Ellington. I mean, it's Ellington.

Virtually all of these bands can be seen on You Tube. Incredible stuff. Check out Peggy Lee with Benny Goodman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zRwze8_SGk

Thanks Chayro, didn't think of that.
Check out Doc Severinsen with Charlie's be-bop side from 1948, that's how he liked to play though " Cherokee" put them on the map.