damon,
the jazz books are wonderful, but IME can only be supplements to transcription, real work experience, and tune learning, for jazz pedagogy.
far too many kids come through my door wanting to study jazz but unwilling to pay the price... eventually they're dumbfounded when a college audition asks for even a basic sonata and concerto for entry to their music school.. regardless of choice re: legit vs. jazz, basic proficiency on the bow, regardless of method taught, is still part of the core of skills many colleges look for in a music major.
Exactly. It is good to understand the ideas of others, but ultimately an improvisor needs their own ideas. That is another good point about Simandl - no one is going to play Simandl licks - it stays out of your music, they do play Rabbath licks, though!
