Album Notes

“The first thing that strikes you when listening to this debut album from Belfast-born, London-based Vocalist Orla Murphy is her lustrous timbre. Sounding like the forgotten lovechild of Joni Mitchell and Terry Callier - seamlessly combining the liquid phrasing of the former with the soulful sonorities of the latter - Murphy's captivating tone really draws the listener into the song. …This impressive debut should help to put this affecting singer well and truly on the map. Peter Quinn, JAZZWISE (October 2007)

“We wandered into the National Portrait Gallery recently, and stumbled on an excellent new singer, Orla Murphy, and Jonathan Gee’s fine trio with Julie Walkington and Winston Clifford. Never know your luck with this place...Someone there knows what’s what.’’ Brian Blain, JAZZ UK (Issue 74, March/April 2007)

"Orla Murphy has a voice as warm, lyrical and expressive - as she is herself." TINA MAY, Jazz Vocalist & Director of the Loire Vocal Jazz Summer School.

Orla Murphy is a talented London-based Jazz Vocalist. Her voice has been described as possessing a distinctive, rich sound with a deep and soulful timbre; and often comparisons are made with great Jazz Vocalists Nina Simone, Cleo Laine, and Diana Krall.

Orla performs regularly at various jazz and music venues throughout London and the United Kingdom. She has worked and recorded with many of London’s leading jazz musicians, some of which feature on her forthcoming second album ‘Wonderous Visions’, which was officially released in the UK on the 6th March 2012. This will be followed by a UK tour in June 2012. The album is a presentation of new jazz arrangements and re-workings of Stevie Wonder songs, chosen from his works mainly from the 1970s (his classic period). Several other songs from outside this period are featured on the album, plus an original, written by Orla and accomplished pianist Steve Lodder.

Orla has also performed at various International festivals throughout the UK and Ireland, in Glasgow, Derry, and Sligo; and at jazz venues in her native Ireland, Scotland, and Wales; as well as performing in Italy and Malaysia.

In 2008, Orla toured England with her trio, funded by Jazz Services, and this coincided with the release of her debut album 'Wishful Thinking' (2008) on FMR Records on the 1st May 2008. The tour was well received and garnered much praise from audiences throughout the country.

Born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Orla’s interest in jazz was fuelled by the plethora of great jazz musicians that performed at her late father’s bar and music room ‘The Bridge’, during the early to mid-1990s. The venue played host to local, national and international jazz musicians such as Paul Dunmall, Jean Touissant and Hugh Fraser. It was around this time that her interest and love of jazz began, and so too her quest to pursue a career as a Jazz Vocalist.