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"Orla is one of those vocalists that you just have to see live. Her captivating performances are enhanced by her own infectious charisma on stage - as appreciated by our audiences!" Paul Amsterdam, Mill Hill Jazz Club (January 2009)

‘Belfast born Orla has a vocal talent of depth and imagination echoing the female jazz greats...Sting’s solo highpoint, Fragile, makes its mark prior to a polished arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s Make Sure Your Sure... Jazz singing and piano with flair, identity and warmth to spare.’ Keith Ames, MUSICIAN (Winter 2008)

‘Singer Orla Murphy's subtle, dark-hued voice and emotionally adventurous approach to jazz is fast making a name for her in UK jazz circles…Orla has developed her engaging, tonal quality through a repertoire of fresh and imaginative arrangements featuring great American standards and newer material by Stevie Wonder and Joni Mitchell." Rupert Mallin, EAST COAST ARTS NEWS (May 2008)

"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. It comes as no surprise when she dusts down Mitchell's 'Be Cool' midway through the set...to the stripped down voice/bass duet 'The Old Country', in which Murphy's great feel and time come strongly to the fore. Also including an intimate cover of Sting's 'Fragile'...an impassioned 'Make Sure Your Sure' (one of Stevie Wonder's standout songs penned for Spike Lee's, Jungle Fever) with pianist Simon Wallace... 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, Belfast-born and raised and now based in London, has been performing on the London jazz scene over the last four years. Her voice has been described as possessing a distinctive, rich, and soulful sound, and comparisons have been made with great jazz Vocalists Cleo Laine and Nina Simone.

Orla has performed in many notable jazz and music venues throughout the city, and in the greater London area, such as: The National Portrait Gallery, The Spice of Life, The National Theatre Foyer, The Octave and Pizza Express (Maidstone). She has worked and recorded with many of London's leading jazz musicians such as: Simon Wallace, Jonathan Gee, Barry Green, Aron Ottingnon, Julie Walkington, Amy Baldwin, and Winston Clifford, to name a few.

In the last year Orla released her debut album 'Wishful Thinking', which she co-produced with pianist Simon Wallace. The album had its official release on FMR Records on the 1st May 2008 and is gaining notable praise from jazz musicians and critics alike. This release coincided with Orla's very successful Jazz Services tour in England, which began at the National Portrait Gallery in London on the 30th May 2008. Other performances took place at the Milestones Jazz Club in Lowestoft, Matt & Phreds Jazz Club in Manchester, The Met in Bury, and St. Ives Jazz Club in Cornwall among others. The tour was well received and garnered much praise and attention from audiences throughout the country.

She has also performed throughout the UK, in Italy, and Ireland, with memorable performances at the Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival (May '07 & '09)), the Glasgow International Jazz Festival (June '07 and on 21st June 09); and Swansea Jazzland, Wales (July '07 & May '08).

In 2005 and 2006 Orla performed with two of Europe's leading contemporary jazz guitarists, notably Sandro Gibellini in Certaldo, Italy (August 2005) and again with him as part of his north-west tour of Ireland in Sligo (February 2006); and with Mike Nielsen at the Sligo Jazz Festival, Ireland (October 2005).