Learning Jazz Syle Solo Guitar

So Bob Burford has me inspired. I've been working on some fairly simplistic jazz solo numbers. They don't sound too bad and are not too difficult to play. It's kind of like learning math as compared to calculus. Burford is pretty amazing and makes it look so easy. When I try, I just look at the chords that are played and then find the melody and figure out a way to play them together. I don't have to stretch from the 5th to the 10th fret on any chords, mainly because I can't, but it still comes out like a song, so...