The Wonder of Stevie is a celebration of Stevie Wonder’s catalogue, featuring premier soul singer Noel McCalla, award-winning saxophonist Derek Nash, and many more world-class performers. They have been touring for years, and are still traversing the country this year to celebrate Stevie Wonder’s brilliance – tickets are here. I asked Derek Nash ten questions to get to grips with how the wonder of Stevie is still so strong in 2026.
THE ARGUS FAR FIVE
‘The Wonder of Stevie’ is a hit-after-hit performance of the legend’s catalogue. Are there any deeper cuts that you wish you could add to the setlist?
We’re still adding all the time. We would like to do ‘Superwoman’, and we’re just about to add ‘If You Really Love me’ from Where I’m Coming From, a joint composition with Syreeta Wright. I’d still love to get something from Secret Life Of Plants, maybe ‘Send One Your Love’. There’s so much great material still to cover.
Stevie only topped the UK Singles chart once (‘I Just Called…’) and never topped the UK Albums chart. Does that surprise you?
In a way, no. His music becomes part of your life. We all have a period to which a Stevie composition or album becomes the soundtrack of your life, but it’s not about hit singles.
Who is your biggest musical inspiration, and why?
It starts with my dad, who worked as arranger for the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra. I learnt so much from him. Sax players: David Sanborn, Cannonball Adderley. Composers: Duke Ellington, Antônio Carlos Jobim and, of course, Stevie Wonder.
When you play, do you try to keep faithful to the original or do you add your own flourishes?
We have always avoided the ‘tribute’ word in favour of ‘celebration’. We do not slavishly follow the originals note for note, although I think we do a great job of recreating the vibe and atmosphere of them. Solos are up to the player at the time, and we also create unique arrangements blending the original recordings with later versions of songs (done by Stevie himself). Check out the live concerts! He’s always adding new sections or solos, for example re-arranging the end of ‘As’, or ‘Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing’.
You’ve shared stages with some musical greats: Sir Paul McCartney, Chaka Khan, Sir Tom Jones. Which performer has surprised you most?
Gregory Porter came to Jools [Holland] unknown to me, and from the second he sung, I felt like I was back in the Count Basie Orchestra with Joe Williams. Being in a dressing room with Eric Clapton, with him singing without a mic was magical. Sir Rod Stewart was totally up for fun and the band vibe, great to work with. Sir Paul McCartney asked politely if we didn’t mind if he counted in ‘Got To Get You Into My Life’, so humble. The great artists always deliver;
every performance could have gone on a record, that’s what I discovered. Lulu, Sir Tom
Jones, Nile Rogers, and more all faultless.
THE DEREK NASH FIVE
Why do you think Stevie Wonder’s catalogue is still so revered?
Great compositions can be covered in lots of different styles, and Stevie’s catalogue has been played by so many, e.g. Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Coolio and Ray Barretto, in so many different ways.
There is such rhythmic and harmonic complexity that it keeps all musicians happy and challenged yet just sounds so natural to the listener.
Burt Bacharach managed the same thing.
When performing songs from across Stevie’s discography, are there any constants or changes that have particularly struck you?
The keys of the originals are interesting. I think as a blind artist he plays lots in E flat, D flat and G flat, obviously the feel of the keyboard with the raised black notes is really comfortable to him, but not natural keys for many other artists.
He can also sing really high, plus he loves a modulation, so many songs have several upward key shifts getting higher and higher! For example, ‘Golden Lady’ and ‘For Your Love’.
From the performance footage I have seen, there is a real joy emanating from everyone on stage. Which track is your favourite to perform?
Every night is different. After nearly nine years of this band, we are still not bored of the material, and the joy comes from the audience reactions. If we do a song that someone got married to, it gives us a massive buzz. Also, getting people up dancing always feels fantastic, as the spirit of the music has gotten through.
The whole band has some incredible credentials: backing vocalist Louise Marshall sang on LF System’s number one hit ‘Afraid to Feel’ in 2022; guitarist Tim Cansfield, as well as working with the likes of Elton John and Tina Turner, contributed calypso music to the Paddington films. What’s your best fun fact?
Noel McCalla actually sang on Smallcreep’s Day, a progressive rock album by Genesis bass player Mike Rutherford.
Drummer Nic France actually toured with Bill Withers!
Fun fact, on Stevie’s first No.1 USA single ‘Fingertips’, the drummer was Marvin Gaye!
What should a first-time audience member expect from ‘The Wonder of Stevie’?
It’s a celebration. Nobody is dressing up and pretending to be Stevie – it’s all about the music.
A joyous atmosphere from the first bar, lots of classics, but maybe a tune you may not have heard before, so you’ll go away and discover more of Stevie’s amazing repertoire for yourself.
The entire band is full of world-class musicians, and the musicality coming off stage is fabulous.
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Argus Far 
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