Bob, I tend to agree with you. There IS a point to melody. I've never really dug that type of jazz, where it seems like there isn't a point to the melody - to lead someone somewhere.

For example, when I listen to Coltrane, I'll take 'Naima' and 'Like Sonny' over what happens after the intro to 'Giant Steps'.

I also have a recording of Trane of 'My Favorite Things' where the 1st half of the song is delightful, and then the 2nd half of the song is just a plain mess. It would be like David Gilmour doing his classy signature lead lines and then the 2nd half of a song, he does guitar pick scrapes and Eddie Van Halen style tapping for no apparent reason like your average neighborhood Guitar Center frequenter.

With all of that said - I'm still impressed by the guitarist in the original link transcribing the randomness of the Cannonball Adderly sax solo into a guitar interpretation.