JULIO’S MOOD

Unfair and undeserved. That’s the only way to describe Paul Grein’s review of Julio Iglesias’ Hollywood Bowl performance (“Iglesias a Lover, Not a Singer,” Sept. 27).

Grein fails to comprehend that soft modulation is exactly what makes the Iglesias style distinctive and unlike any other American singer. Grein’s attempt to compare Iglesias to Sinatra or Tom Jones is as ludicrous as comparing Kenny Rogers to Pavarotti.

Grein has no understanding of what Iglesias is all about.

He also complains that Iglesias lets his back-up singers and orchestra provide the musical “dynamics.” Yet it’s precisely these factors--orchestration, backup and singer--that fit together to create the mood . And that’s what Iglesias does so well--create a romantic mood.

It’s clear that Grein neither understands nor appreciates this unique style and is, therefore, totally unqualified to judge it. At the very least, The Times owes Iglesias a second opinion.

NADINE DAVIDSON

Beverly Hills