This is me, over a similar timespan but with different listening habits
I initially respond to an overall feel which often manifests itself in some ways as "having soul" by which I don't mean Aretha, Otis or Luther but an intangible realness, a communication of investment and intent, 'meaning it'. I can hear this both in MJQ and Brotzmann and much in between. Conversely, I struggle with "all technique and no feeling" (a favourite phrase of mine) and I hear this in Michael Brecker, Peter Evans (but not recently), Michel Petrucianni, Chick Corea and Chris Potter to name a few. Once the overall sound has hooked me then I'm engaged and listening to the dynamics and relationships between the musicians. Tunes and groove can be important too although much of what I have listened to doesn't have too much of either.
Whilst I can distinguish Grover from Kenny (and pass the Jsngry test) I am bad at distinguishing individual voices generally, hence my pitiful BFT performances.