Jazz Guitar instructors

Hi al, i was hoping to get a jazz guitar instructor, i really think its about time a get a teacher anyways as i am heading to a brick wall fast!!

I know there are a couple of instructors here and i was wondering what i should look for in a jazz instructor and what they would want from me theory and technique-wise and all that?

I would get a DVD or tapes but i really would prefer a real teacher so i can guage my progress. Thanks.

I got a Jazz instructor for a year last year. I went to a college/university that specialises in music and I asked for the names and numbers of the guitar tutors and I found a really good one.

To learn jazz it's important to have a good knowledge of the major scale and also how 7th chords are constructed and how they relate to the major scale.

Well thanks a lot for answering. I know you're good at jazz and all (used your lesson on minor vamp jam). So all i need to know is a working knowledge of the major scale and how 7th chords are constructed? I'll call up the local guitar center and ask them. I'm takinga guitar for non-majors class right now and its driving me CRAZY!!! We spend half the class period tuning cuz some beanhead cant learn to listen properly and then the other half playing chords like C and G7. :(

Yeah it's far more valuable getting private lessons (although they are more expensive of course).
My other advice is that if you want to improve dramatically at jazz, start learning how to play other people's solos. It doesn't have to be guitar solos of course but you'll find the guitar ones easier at first. Start easier with some Charlie Christian solos (his solo from Flying Home is a good example) and then move up to harder ones when you're ready (Wes Montgomery etc)
This in my mind is the single best way to improve your own jazz solos.
Becoming good at improv is all about listening and learning.