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Dear Sir,

In the course of my 20 years  as a professional singer I have, as you can certainly imagine, endured my  fair share of reviews of my performances. And I have of course also come to  respect that everyone is entitled to their opinions of what I present on  stage. However, when a review is printed which goes beyond a criticism of my work into a criticism of my person, I feel compelled to  respond.

In Tim Hall's review of my City Hall performance on  the 10th he referred to my 'self-imposed exile'. The use of the word 'exile'  implies that I have some problem with either Bermuda or with life in  Bermuda. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I have a wonderful family  and plenty friends in Bermuda who I visit - and have always visited - as often  as time and finances allow. I simply choose to live closer to where the bulk of my work is, Europe.

  I would also like to add that the purpose of the performance at City Hall was not to display my 'versatility'  but to present an 'evening of Jazz', which anyone who read the  Bermuda Festival Programme would have seen.

  In closing I would  like to thank the Bermuda Festival organizers and all the people who came to  the concert on Tuesday evening including His Excellency the Governor and  Lady Gozney. My band and I (contrary to Mr. Hall's impression) had a great  time from start to finish and were simply thrilled to be  there.

Craig  Lemont Walters

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