How do you play?

We have been auditioning bass players.
I send them the bass tab and MP3's for 3 songs a week in advance.
One guy who joined us the other night played so far off from the
original that he changed the feeling of the song completely.
I asked him what he was playing and he said that he doesn't believe in
playing songs like the originals.
He would rather play his own renditions.
While I agree that every song does not have to be note for note I think
they should be close.
Do yoiu learn songs note for note?
Can you learn songs note for note?

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