Could use some help.

[Hadden]

So I'm a lurker here, and I'm at a crossroads of sorts.

I decided I'd work on my reading skills, which kinda lack.
So I picked up Jazz Conception by Jim Snidero.

Great book, but so far I've learned it will help to slow me down and pay attention to the music. I've had a huge problem with paying attention to sheet music. But with just lead lines in the book, I know my chord skills are lacking.
And even with my weak reading skills, I flew through the first couple of tunes pretty easy.
I did really enjoy the accents that the CD brings to the table in conjunction to the book.
Is there a good book that leads you through progressions?
I have great hand dexterity, and can play almost anything by ear.
But I know I'm lacking in the overall concept of jazz playing.
If you told me to play a ii V I in G# I'd crash and burn.
I'd like to find a method that breaks ideas like that down.

Thanks in advance.

[jmstritt]

Well you are asking a couple of different questions here. If you are looking for help with reading, I would suggest using the Berklee Modern Method for Guitar books. They will get you reading some things that actually sound like music in different keys, positions, time signatures, etc. There is also a Berklee Sightreading for Guitar book. That would probably be a good place to go after you finish Book 1 of the Berklee method.

If you are looking for info on how to play jazz lines, and info for helping your improvisational skills then I would suggest this book...

Amazon.com: An Introduction to Jazz Guitar Soloing BK/CD (Introduction to Book & CD) (9780634009709): Joe Elliott: Books

Either way, I would recommend finding a teacher in your area that can work with you one on one. Especially with the reading stuff, you won't know if you are doing it right if you don't know what you're reading. It seems like you are looking for help in many different areas. Reading, Improv and Jazz Theory, and Chords. Based on this, it sounds like you are in the situation I was in many many years ago, where I was a fairly accomplished rock player, had done a ton of gigs, taught, etc, but didn't know didly about jazz. What I ultimately did was saw a great jazz player here in town and after his set asked to take lessons from him. Best move I ever made! It really helped when I went to GIT and got to test out of all the beginning and intermediate theory and reading classes!

[Reg]

The goal of sight reading is to be able to play what your reading as though your not reading. To get to that point... you need to be reading ahead of what your playing. The general way of doing this is to be able to recognize what your reading, both rhythmically and melodically, which gives you time to actually play... articulations, being able to listen what else is going on etc...
Generally you work on rhythmical and melodic aspects separate as well as together. Rhythm is more important at first. The standard rhythm books are...
Amazon.com: Modern Reading Text in 4/4 For All Instruments (0029156061369): Louis Bellson: Books
and
Amazon.com: Odd Time Reading Text: For All Instruments : Rhythmic Studies Designed to Develop Accuracy and Speed in Sight Reading As Applied to Odd Time Signatures (9780769233727): Louis Bellson, Gil Breines, Henry Adler: Books
Both by Louis Bellson, they have mistakes... they're there for a reason, Most charts and printed music has mistakes, you will need the practice of recognizing mistakes as well.
Your practice of scales, arpeggios etc... are training you to recognize melodic patterns, the next part of learning to sight read. You'll need lots of material... anything you don't know... even fake books.
Sight reading is not memorizing notated music... that is performance.
As far as improve... there are many approaches... but you really can't begin to solo with out getting your skills together... knowing your fretboard as well as hearing it. There are many layers to jazz... most never get past the first. Many times players want results before they've done the work... it will all come out in your playing, you can fake it sometimes... not really. You'll sound like some one who hasn't done the work... at least to jazz players.
The cool thing... putting in the time is great... it just keeps getting better...Reg