OK, That Title Was Too Much of a Provocation

This video, a short excerpt of an interview with Carla Bley and Steve Swallow has an enormous amount of experience and wisdom about playing music in it.  What Steve Swallow says about musicians working on a solo over time, as Carla Bley says, giving out something to do with the composition instead of "yard goods", is incredibly useful to someone who doesn't have any idea of what the music is really about, in real experience.

His example of Miles Davis in that regard may force me to go back and listen to more of his music, he's never been one of my favorites, I like him best when he was playing under someone else.  You're not required to like everyone but if a musician as fine as Steve Swallow recommends someone, I feel obligated to give them another try.