If only that were true. When researching text based reharmonisation sources, I found this textbook on arranging by Michael Miller. While I wouldn't use this book as an authority on jazz based harmony, the book contains many simplified theory based tools that can be used to alter chord structures. Perhaps the most useful thing that can be gained from this book is his work on chord leading.
Chord leading is the art of creating sequences of chords which flow naturally into other chords - this is often based on the melody of a piece.
By studying arranging and orchestration - something I wouldn't normally associate with a jazz based project - an understanding of harmony and the ins and out of arranging (important because when you think about it this project is basically aimed at rearranging existing pieces of music). It was this discovery that led me to decide that I'd have to study harmonic techniques and guidelines associated with music in general - not just in jazz. This was the point where I discovered that the successful completion of the project would entail much more than I initially thought it would.
While very basic, the following chord chart taken from the book will help me to create early rules. It details which chords can effectively lead to any chord. While any chord can technically follow any other chord, knowledge of which chords are deemed by most to be most "effective" will help create rules and chord sequences which make musical "sense". After all, the end result of the project is to create something that is musical - not just throw any reharmonised chords together and say "this works".
References
O'Donnell, Eric. 'Jazz Contrafacts And Jazz Reharmonization For Improvisers | Jazzadvice.Com'. Jazzadvice.com. N.p., 2013. Web. 21 July 2015.
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