This is something I find interesting, and I think, difficult to really pin down. The solo improvisation in Jazz is such an important element, and yet to really get down and critique an individual performance seems very difficult beyond simply saying, well...I like that or I don't.

Are there any specific criteria you listen for in solos that help in your judgement of quality?

Personally, I find myself listening to the overall ensemble performance more than an individual player's contributions, but I've been trying lately to focus in on the individual elements more and decide how I would rate them.

I know that the style needs to be considered--some might just prefer a flurry of bop-inflected notes, technically challenging and energetic, some might lean more towards a Jamal/Davis type of thoughtful, paced performance, and some might lean towards Brotzmann/Schlippenbach-type chaos...or I suppose a bit of everything? (Coltrane/Kirk?) But within those approaches, there has to be standards of excellence that one can pin down...do you have to have a specific, immediate emotional response to the performance, does it have to have tons of variety and unpredictability that keeps your interest, does it have to have consonant, melodic content or be as free as possible? Does it have to impress you on a technical level? All of the above? Is there such a thing as a "bad" Coltrane performance? Have you thought about this at all?

Seriously, I'm curious. How do you grade an improvisation? Or, is it simply a completely intuitive reaction on your part that you have no critical reaction to?

Personally, I think I lean more towards the intuitive/feeling type of response, but I've been thinking about this as I feel like I should possibly be listening more critically...

...thoughts?

i use the hair on my arms as a gauge to determine greatness in situations like this. if the hair stands on end it's great, if not then it can't be better than good.

I like it when a soloist takes me around the block, shows me the other side of the tracks and drops me off where I started.