Yumi Ito Trio, Ysla

As the daughter of Japanese concert pianist Suguru Ito and her Polish mezzo-soprano Margo Cadias, Yumi Ito, who grew up and lives in Switzerland, was born into music, so to speak. Nevertheless, she first had to find her own way. She was not happy with the classical jazz singing that she learned at university, and was liberated by the discovery of the experimental, which turned her music into an amalgam of jazz, art-pop, electronica and neoclassical music.

And so today she joins the ranks of extraordinary Swiss vocal artists such as Christian Zehnder and Andreas Schaerer. With an incredible voice that is unparalleled in terms of power, expressiveness and urgency, coupled with a brilliant talent for improvisation and outstanding qualities as a composer. This has already propelled her on stage alongside stars such as Becca Stevens, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Mark Turner. (Press release)

This album is like the opening of new doors, far from rules, schemes and routine, permeated by the freshness, enthusiasm and extraordinary vocal technique of the artist. Yumi Ito is not only an outstanding singer, but also an interesting composer who knows how to handle the musical material in an economical and refined way. An outstanding album, we are thrilled!

For the first time, Yumi Ito plays all the piano parts herself, and it is impressive: when the often complex key patterns sound and the musician sings along with them in a completely detached manner, a world beyond all boundaries is created in an instant. She improvises seemingly playfully across genres, keys and rhythms of all kinds. All three effortlessly maneuver together through a veritable genre ocean of ambient sounds, mystical grooves and soulful parts between art-pop, jazz and neo-classical. (jazz-fun.de)

Program and cast

Yumi Ito: vocals, piano
Nadav Erlich: bass
Iago Fernández: drums