Sir, - Ms Maura Eaton, speaking for the Arts Council (August 22nd) tells us that a jazz musician of international reputation would not be eligible for membership of Aosdana on the grounds that he or she is an interpretative, rather than a creative, artist.Surely the Arts Council can't be serious. As anyone who has ever enjoyed Louis Stewart's sublime artistry knows well, the essence of great jazz is spontaneous and sustained improvisation on a theme or chord sequence in which virtuosity, imagination, intelligence and the expression of feeling interact to produce a unique musical experience - and a musical entity that did not exist until that moment.The historic recorded performances of great jazz musicians of the past are transcribed and published - and are studied by aspiring practitioners - in effect as composed works. The jazz process at its highest level cannot be described other than as one of the purest manifestations of creative art. - Yours, etc., Brian Hogan,
Portobello,
Dublin 8.