Yumi Ito

With her voice, Yumi Ito creates worlds far beyond all boundaries. The Polish-Japanese-born Swiss is considered one of the most outstanding representatives of vocal improvisation and moves effortlessly between genres and her roles as a singer, pianist and composer. Ito's own music is correspondingly diverse, a veritable ocean of art-pop, jazz and neoclassical music. Based on countless concerts and tours, the musician acts like a Zen master, clear, reflective and with a uniquely powerful energy. Milestones in her career include performances at the Blue Note New York, Montreux Jazz Festival, tours in Asia, South America, Europe and five released albums as a band leader, most recently the critically highly acclaimed Ysla (2023 via enja yellowbird records).

Ito regularly fills international concert venues and festivals to capacity, including recent sold out shows at the JazzArt Festival at NOSPR in Katowice (Poland), the Veneto Jazz Festival at the legendary La Fenice in Venice (Italy), the Akbank Jazz Festival in Istanbul (Turkey), the Euro-Venezuelan Jazzfestival (Venezuela) and the ZOA Festival in Ardagger Stift (Austria).

The prize winner of the Montreux Jazz Competition was selected for the Focus Year Program under Wolfgang Muthspiel at the Jazzcampus Basel (2017–2018), received the High Priority Jazz Promotion Grant from Pro Helvetia (2022–2024), and was unanimously chosen by the Jazzahead jury for a Showcase at Jazzahead in Bremen, Germany (2024).

Yumi Ito performs solo or with her band. Always in focus: the creation of musical worlds in the spirit of boundlessness.