Orla Murphy

Wonderous VisionsGolden Records ***

Belfast-born, London-based singer Orla Murphy's second album, a heartfelt homage to the great Stevie Wonder, is remarkable for two reasons. First, it's a mark of Wonder's genius that these songs, written some 40 years ago for his own voice accompanied by electric instruments, stand up so well that an Irish woman singing with an acoustic jazz trio can find plenty to explore in them without ever losing their essential wonderousness. Second, it is a measure of Murphy's achievement here that she brings something new to the songs, ably assisted by a talented group of young Londoners, notably bassist Andy Hamilton and pianist Jonathan Gee. Her vocal style has clearly been influenced by her idol, and sometimes perhaps she strays too close to Wonder's own delivery of the songs but when she finds her own voice, as she does on All I Do and Too High, she proves that she has something profound to say about Wonder's wonderful songs. orlamurphy.net