Fine trumpet , alto sax recordings?

Thank you Frogman for your detailed response. Much appreciated!
I own a bunch of Sandborn cd's, and there are a few tracks that I use as a reference cd.
I will look into your suggestions. I think I will start with the Paul Desmond and Clifford Brown cds.
I am very lucky to have seen a ton of live shows since 1980.(hundreds)
Just for a reference I have saw about 75 Grateful Dead/Jerry Garcia Band shows. I even got too see Jerry and David Grisman on Broadway. John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins and the Icebreakers, to Ricky lee Jones and Joan Armatrading,Toots Thielemans and Chuck Mangione.etc... (Symphonies and Operas too) So I think I have a very good reference for live music. Of course I continue to see live music as much as possible.
I'm going to Damien Jurado tomorrow evening. (an awesome singer song-writer)

"Finger Painting" features beautiful trumpet playing by Nicholas Payton.Beautiful music and excellent natural recording. Also has Mark Whitfield(guitar) and Christian McBride(acoustic bass).

Kenny G's just pure lullybuys. I'd call his music 'rectangular' with no unordinary shapes.
Chris Botti's the best before getting laid. He's great trumpeter.
From the today's trumpeters I give my preference to Roy Hargrove -- the REAL JAZZ. Recently deceased Michael Brecker was a true genius of the saxophone.

Try 'Musician' by Ernie Watts. Probably my all time smooth jazz alto sax album since it was released 25 years ago. The CD version was just released on Wounded Bird records. 'One Love' is one of my favorite instrumentals. The CD 'Sanctuary' is good, as well.

Rich

Not 'smooth jazz' but it sure is great evening listening - Andre Previn (P) and Thomas Stephens (T) "Play and American Song Book. DRG5222. Been around for a while so it might be OOP. One of my favorite late PM CD's (Along with Charlie Haden's recordings but there is no trumpet in any of them).