Yuko Ito SEDUZIR

June 11, 2024

YUKO ITO

SEDUZIR

Funny Baby Face Records New York

Yuko Ito, vocals; Helio Alves, piano; Edward Perez, bass; Alexandre Kautz, drums/percussion; Willie Ruiz, percussions/vocals; Romero Lubambo, guitar; Steve Wilson, alto saxophone; Vanessa Falabella, vocals.

Yuko Ito is a Tokyo-born vocalist who has a deep appreciation for Brazilian music and jazz. She is fluent in Portuguese and performs several songs in that language. Ito began singing as a young teen and never looked back. She sang in various groups she formed while in high school and participated in the omnibus albums “Marcy’s Factory” and on the “Kick Off Boys” record. Seeking to broaden her horizons, Yuko moved to New York City in 1994. She earned her B.F.A in Jazz Vocal Performance under the mentorship of the great Sheila Jordan.

I am impressed with her arrangement of “O-0-h Child” that was a huge Pop/R&B hit record back in 1970. She has totally re-arranged this song to fit her style and made it quite jazzy.

I enjoy her Afro-Cuban arrangement of “Besame Mucho” with background voices that chant at the song’s ending.

On the title tune, “Seduzir” she performs with piano only, singing in Portuguese and featuring her sensitive pianist, Helio Alves. Yuko Ito is not afraid to show her vulnerability. Her arrangement is quite different from the official composer’s arrangement (the famous Djavan), but it showcases her style and voice. When she arrives at the fade of her songs, I notice that she likes to groove in a rhythmic and repetitive way. That makes for catchy endings. On songs like “O Ronco Da Cuica” she adds the vocals of Vanessa Falabella, who also is quite captivating on the opening tune titled, “Caxangá.” I’m disappointed on the song called “O Bébado E A Equilibrista” where she sounds off-key at the top of the song and doesn’t seem to be comfortable settling into the rhythm of this song. I have heard and loved Elis Regina’s rendition of this composition and I recognize that it’s a difficult melody to master.

Ito is surrounded by stellar musicians who bring the tracks alive with Brazilian Spirit and jazz excellence. This vocalist does not shy away from great music. She sings the famed Bill Evans song “Waltz for Debby” with lyrics by Gene Lees, singing this time in English. Edward Perez plays a lovely bass solo. The band swings, but Yuko sings it straight. It’s such a great lyric about a little girl growing up and leaving childish things behind, like her big purple bear. Helio Alves swings heartily on piano after the Perez solo, and the band is wonderful. I prefer Yuko Ito singing Brazilian songs. She scats on “Voce E Eu” and closes with the familiar standard, “You and the Night and the Music.”

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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