I think that column is about exactly what it's meant to be about....showmanship.
Lane is pretty clear that what's missing from bass solos is not musicality, but showmanship. Whenever a solo by any instrument is just the musician noodling to him/herself and not playing to the audience, I wouldn't expect it to get the attention it deserves.
Musicality is obviously important - but many times the missing ingredient is showmanship. In the case referred to in the column, the scales tipped WAY over to showmanship - but that's his point. Musicality alone isn't enough...and in this case, it wasn't even required.
I know that some here (not looking at you Dave, just standing around with my hands in my pockets, whistling idly) are not Dick Dale fans....but when he does a solo, he SELLS it to the audience. They go nuts! And I gotta give Sam Bolle, his bass player on the last tours I've seen, credit for doing the same thing. It doesn't hurt that Dale clearly throws it to Sam, and he takes it and runs with it...and again, the crowd really responds.
If the band respects the solo, and pays attention, the the musician sells it, than a bass solo is a whole lot more important than if everyone treats it as a coffee break.
The bass player in the column did something simple but difficult - he sold his performance with showmanship. Not everyone can do it, and it took the right setting to pull it off. Ferinstance, not gonna happen that way with a jazz trio. I can see the pose on stage...and hear crickets!
