In "55, the Downbeat readers" poll named Basie"s orchestra the best jazz band in the land. Here are the 1953-54 recordings that earned him that distinction: Plymouth Rock; Peace Pipe; She"s Just My Size; Down for the Count; Perdido; Ain"t Misbehavin"; Two for the Blues; Don"t Blame Me; Eventide; Straight Life 39 tracks featuring Joe Newman, Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Freddie Green, Gus Johnson and the rest of the great band that one critic described as having "blazing power and a zest for blowing!"