does anyone know what i can do to improve my improv. soloing for jazz? i have only been playing jazz for 2 years but im on lead can any of you be so kind as to help me out???? thanx a bunch all. ~Tim Parks~

Ithink that this is when the improve thing comes intoplay, lol jk, I just try to get a feel for the song (and know the key by heart) and play to my little shrivled hearts desire. good luck. listen to maynard furguson!
-matt

yea. listen to MF(maynard ferguson) he awesome. this is a pretty good sight:
http://maynard.ferguson.net/

It`s not much harder than reading the chords and sticking to them. The first step is of course to learn what the chords mean, there are tons of sites and books about them, so that shouldn`t be much of a problem. Once you figure out what they are, play the scales up and down a couple of times and get the "feel" for the notes, then out of time, start to play these notes almost randomly, until you start hearing some patterns of notes you like. Then simply add time and rhythm, and soon you`ll have some descent solo`s. Remember that you don`t have to overplay on a solo and fill it up with notes, resting is music as well, take your time at first and perhaps just play the chord notes. (for instance, G7 would be G, B, D, and F) You can improv with just those 4 notes, changing up the rhythm and order of notes. Then add the 9th (A) and finally the entire scale.
It all comes to you in time, when you start out you`re going to be thinking of the chords and notes a ton and not really be thinking of the sound you`re making, it`s normal; but once you get comfortable, you`ll be able to "feel" the notes before you play them, and barely notice you`re reading chords instead of just playing what comes from your heart.