Quantizing isn't always the best thing. It can make the performance too rigid and robotic. Allow yourself slight timing issues as it'll make it human and allow more interest.
As far as a synth, I'd go modular, something that you can build on later with cheaper add-ons. Maybe something like the...
Isao Tomita - Snowflakes Are Dancing
Jeff Wayne - War Of The Worlds
Bob Marley - Exodus
ELO - A New world Record
ELP - Brain Salad Surgery
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
Beatles - Rubber Soul
Eric Clapton - Unplugged
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
And of course, anything by Abba...