The obvious priority is to get your intonation together. Your sound and your pitch should be inspiring to people, not a distraction.
I use all different kinds of techniques for all different types of music. The music dictates the style.
It is really refreshing to hear a big band that has the ability to execute ensemble passages with swing and precision while retaining a "small group" feel during the solo sections. This kind of "tight, loose" approach is seldom heard in big bands, whether they are professional or not. Now, all the band needs is to hit the road and take the music around the world!
