My favorite all time baritone saxophonist is HARRY CARNEY. Yes, I know you´re talking about leading dates and solos... and Carney wasn´t a regular leader (wish he had been!) but:
-first of all, I think he was the base and support of the Ellington reeds section... and this means a lot to me!
-then he gave us wonderful solos here and there through the years (many years, a whole life he spent with the Duke). He was "more generous" in the early days and he hardly soloed at the end!
-and he´s featured in many Ellingtonians small ensembles dates with the likes of Cootie Williams, Johnny Hodges, Rex Stewart...
BTW: hear him playing in the 1938 Carnegie Hall Goodman´s concert!!!!!!