Jazz, because it does include improvisation, can only be accomplished by knowing your instrument really, really well first and foremost. Without knowing your guitar inside and out...sorry no dice.
After that...total dedication. Jazz is a lifestyle as much as any genre which projects on-the-spot emotions. There are many Jazz musician who are technical too perfect, but play cold. Just be careful, handle theory with care. It's easy to lose sight where you want to go with it and how much you can absorb and apply to the point where it becomes your own language. It's a long road...