We should all be so lucky as to have Raul Midon's "State of Mind." The New Mexico-born singer/songwriter's debut on EMI's Manhattan Records is a sunny, breezy and unabashedly buoyant work that is chock full of warm melodies and catchy hooks.

Midon straddles a variety of styles, from Top 40 pop and '70s-era folk rock to Stevie Wonder-inspired R&B and Latin jazz, yet the music never feels overly busy or cluttered. The overall vibe is that someone simply handed Midon a guitar at a campfire and asked him to sing a few numbers.

The artist, who has been blind since birth, is an equally gifted vocalist and guitarist. His amazingly piercing and emotional voice indeed recalls Wonder, as well as other greats like Donny Hathaway and Richie Havens, on the gorgeous "Waited All My Life" and "Mystery Girl." His flamenco-influenced acoustic guitar work, however, often steals the show, such as on the finger-workout title track.

Midon gets plenty of help from his friends on the album. Jason Mraz, who enlisted Midon for his Curbside Prophets tour last year, lends vocal support on "Keep on Hoping," and jazzman Stefon Harris adds vibraphone on "All in Your Mind." Percussionist Cyro Baptista, a veteran of Trey Anastasio's band, finds the right rhythm for "Sunshine (I Can Fly)." Even Stevie Wonder gets into the act, blowing harmonica on "Expressions of Love."