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  | YUMI ITO / YVES THEILER ~ YPSILON
FOR WHAT ~ POLAND ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2017 Released: 2017
This is the second album by the duo comprising of Polish / Japanese (resident in Switzerland) Jazz vocalist Yumi ItoFind albums by this artist and Swiss Jazz pianist Yves TheilerFind albums by this artist. The album presents six original compositions, three each by Ito and Theiler.
The intimate duo setting is ideal to emphasize the phenomenal vocal abilities of Ito, who performs mostly using vocalese and overdubs her vocals most effectively. Only two of the compositions feature short lyrics, so most of the vocal performances are purely wordless. She offers an incredible range and sensitivity, which will come to full bloom in her later albums, but this early recording is charming in its naiveté and directness, but already clearly shows her unconventional approach and courage to exit beyond traditional vocal Jazz norms.
Theiler is an excellent partner as accompanist but also plays excellent solo piano parts, which are very lyrical and melodious. Together the duo is an embodiment of the Jazz “Art of the Duo” idiom. All the compositions are interesting and also well beyond straightforward mainstream, but not totally Free Form, which enables the music to be accessible to all well trained Jazz listeners.
Overall, this is a wonderful and sadly quite obscure album, which deserves to be heard, especially by unconventional vocal Jazz lovers. Therefore, I highly recommend to make an effort and get hold of a copy of this little gem, which is definitely worth the attention of true Jazz lovers!
| | Updated: 23/04/2023Posted: 23/04/2023 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
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