Tonight the Bermuda Festival welcomes home another Bermudian as part of its special 400th anniversary line-up. This time it is singer Craig Lemont Walters who takes centre stage at City Hall theatre with his presentation of 'An Evening of Jazz'.

Accompanying him are the trio of Marc Schmolling (piano), Jonathan Robinson (bass), and Juraj Rasi (drums). Born and raised in Bermuda, Mr. Walters was an award-winning voice student in the US before moving to Germany in 1988. Currently living in Berlin, he travels extensively, and enjoys a successful professional career singing in operas and musicals, including world premières, as well as gospel and jazz.

Lately, Mr. Walters has been leaning more towards singing jazz, and it is this genre which he has chosen to present in Bermuda.

In fact, because Duke Ellington is his favourite composer, he is devoting the second half of tonight's programme to the great jazzman's works.

Although the singer has worked with each of his three back-up musicians separately, the Bermuda Festival gig marks the first time they are performing together.

Mr. Schmolling performs internationally, both as a soloist and in bands, appears in festivals, and has also made a recording with his piano trio. He is a lecturer in jazz piano. Mr. Robinson is a graduate of Berklee College of Music.

He has received awards from the International Association of Jazz Educators, and the Louis Armstrong Foundation Award for outstanding membership. Equally adept at the string and electric bass, he has performed with musicians from avant-garde to rock, classical to classic jazz.

Mr. Rasi was born into a musical family in Czechoslovakia. His father, a composer and local music school director, began playing the cello at age five, and a year later made his first television appearance.

He began studying drums and percussion at age 15, later majoring in marimba, xylophone, vibraphone and many other percussion instruments. Currently, Mr. Rasi works in diversified styles, including classical, rock and jazz.

Curtain time tonight is 8 p.m. For tickets/further information visit website www.bermudafestival.org