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  All Day... The William Murphy Project  On All Day... The William Murphy Project, the Detroit-born artist (who now has praise and worship responsibilities at Bishop Eddie Long's New Birth Church in Atlanta), takes things up another notch.This is Murphy's second solo disk, but his first on a national label (Sony Urban Music), and it's a beauty. The album opens with a rousing opening set of hands-up praise energy, in which Murphy leads the large congregation in worship on the high octane "Good". Then Murphy proceeds to make full use of the crack band and the All Day Mass Choir, not to mention an impressive and diverse list of guest soloists. The overall meld makes for a wonderfully textured recording. Songs such as "Hear My Prayer", written by Murphy, showcase the vocal strength of the All Day Mass Choir. The memorable melody ensures that this piece will soon find a home in congregations everywhere. "Ignite My Fire", penned by DeVaughn Murphy, soars in its lyricism and tune, and stops you in your tracks. On "Be Strong", Murphy's father,Bishop William H. Murphy Jr. steps in for powerful exhortation on top of the mass choir's call and response and Shannon Davis' organ underpinnings. The generational span continues into the repraise, with Murphy's grandfather, Dr. William H. Murphy Sr. adding his own vocals along with his son and grandson.  Murphy wisely remakes his signature song, "Praise Is What I Do", this one a little more succinct than the original, but not otherwise too different.Pulling some material from his underheard independently-released solo debut, Changes (see album review), Murphy places superb songs such as "Created To Worship" and "I Know Why I Am Here" into a live setting. On the acoustic-tracked "One Pure and Holy Passion", Murphy introduces sweet-toned vocalist Lili Wilson, and on the familiar tune "Let It Rise", El Trio de Hoy's Jessie Gonzalez adds his Latin flair to Murphy's soul. Both cuts are winners. The album closes out with gorgeous studio cuts, produced by PJ Morton and Warryn Campbell. Equally comfortable in a recording booth as he is in a live setting, Murphy's heart-pouring and soul-baring is palpable. Morton works a marvellously organic vibe on "I Don't Know Why", which is the vehicle for Murphy to work lyrics that both express repentence and claim God's promise to never leave our side. Stacked vocals on both cuts enhance the vibe nicely. The title track, "All Day", ends the album. True to form, Warryn Campbell's applies his in-demand polish, imparting brightness to the tune by filling it with urban, chunky percussion, creating an all-out jam that is essential for anyone's summer —or winter for that matter. Murphy's street psalm about 24-7 living in Christ will hit hard for every sincere believer.
Email This To A Friend Sony Urban Music — reviewed by Stan North —
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