'Lonely Island' by Yumi Ito

'Lonely Island' is such a fascinating title - and concept - for Yumi Ito to explore as her latest full-length release... for an artist that thrives off collaboration, and who has immersed themselves amidst the Swiss jazz landscape, Ito boldly seeks to strip away all supporting elements to her music and opts to present herself through a compelling state of musical honesty.

Heralding the release of Ito's sixth album, the Swiss-Polish-Japanese vocalist, pianist and composer - now based in Basel, Switzerland - presents a scintillating reimagining of ten of her most cherished songs with Ito as the project's sole presence.

Anyone who has ever had the luxury of losing themselves to music by Yumi Ito in the past will fully vouch for the boundless proficiency she brings to her craft - an accomplished and elegant pianist, an exquisite vocalist, an imaginative improviser and adept collaborator... Ito's accolades and credentials have long cemented her as a definitive force within contemporary jazz.

Through past releases that have positioned Ito amidst a variety of collaborators and ensembles including the duo setting of 'Ekual' alongside guitarist Szymon Mika, or amidst the full ten-musician line-up for 2023's 'Ysla', there's a healthy appreciation for Ito's ability to utilise each project as an entirely new avenue for creative storytelling.  And even outside of her own projects, collaborations with Yves Theiler, Florian Arbenz, ROSID and Fabian Bürgi continue to showcase her in-demand talents amongst the thriving Swiss scene.

And for those long-term appreciators of Ito's music, the release of 'Lonely Island' must surely come as a dream project and an incomparable showcase of her unbridled talents.  For 'Lonely Island', isolation invariably becomes intimacy.  In the absence of other collaborators, there's an unfiltered truth that Yumi Ito courageously displays through the project that is befitting of her towering reputation.  A sensational recontextualising of past releases, Ito's at times ethereal performance finds a beguiling take on her penchant for beautifully nuanced, neo-classical-tinged jazz merged with contemporary sweeping soundscapes.

At the beginning of this review, there was a reference to 'Lonely Island' serving as something of a fascinating title - there are undeniable connotations to the 'lonely island' hinting at traces of loneliness or even exile but this album actually positions Yumi Ito at her most confident and assured.  A captivating piece of art that serves as a powerful reminder that profound connections come often from moments of absolute solitude.