having worked with session musicians on professional recordings the guys who turn up can usually sight read most things. however, a solo from the jazz greats you quote will need expression and skill so its less likely to be 'straight from the dots'

i can sight read a guitar chord part most of the time for pop and country but jazz and big band stuff would leave me gasping.

i think you should have gone to the audition......the worst that could have happened is them turning you down and if the parts you were asked to play were too complicated a dignified and quick exit would not have scarred you for life.

i recently did trials for two 60s pop bands that needed a vocalist - songs that i know by heart but in both cases it just didn't work the way it had with previous bands. halfway through we all decided to stop.

we're all still happily making music - but separately!