Frank,

I think that Charlie Parker may have said, "Learn everything that you can, then forget all that shit, and just play". I do agree with you, as a teacher, I can really only help with the first part of that--at least intellectually--on the other hand, when I am playing really well, it brings out surprising things in the people that I am playing with--

At any rate, there are very few musicians who are truly great improvisors--but there are many people who can find a great idea through improvisation, with a little polishing and dscreet editing, work it into something great--