I am a FIRM believer that you should be able to read music... if you aren't you are only doing half your job...it's like trying to drink a soda, and being too lazy to open the top... so get some theory and learn to read... especially sight read.
Also... learn to read charts... a lot of people find them a whole lot easier then actually writing out note after note...
Learn Chord construction... When you get that then worry about soloing and improvisation..I mean you gotta know the rules before you can break the rules...